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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


BULLETIN   No.  141 


RELATIVE     EFFICIENCY     OF     DIFFERENT 

RATIONS  FOR  FLESHING  HORSES 

FOR  MARKET 


BY  RUFUS  C.  OBRECHT 


URBANA,   ILLINOIS,   NOVEMBER,   1909 


SUMMARY  OF  BULLETIN  No.  141 

1.  Some  of  the  factors  which  determine  the  profits  or  losses  resulting  from 
fleshing  horses  for  market  are :  The  market  class  and  grade  selected ;  their  initial 
cost;  their  soundness;  the  cost  of  feeds;  the  efficiency  of  the  ration  for  produc- 
ing gains;  the  methods  employed  in  feeding;  the  length  of  time  necessary  to  feed 
to  secure  the  desired  finish ;  the  retaining  of  health  and  soundness  of  the  horses 
during  the  feeding  period,  and  the  season  marketed.  Page  525 

2.  The  object  of   these  experiments   was   to   compare   different   rations    for 
fleshing  horses  for  market,  in  which  corn,  oats,  bran,  oil  meal,  clover  hay  and 
timothy  hay  were  used;  and  also,  to  determine  the  influence  of  exercise  in  tak- 
ing on  of  flesh  together  with  methods  of  stabling.  Page  525 

3.  Plan. — Experiment  No.  1  involved  three  lots  of  6  horses  each  and  each  lot 
was  fed  a  different  ration  for  84  days.  Page  526 

Experiment  No.  2  involved  four  lots  of  6  horses  each  and  each  lot  was  fed  a 
different  ration  for  112  days.  The  horses  in  both  experiments  were  appraised  by 
a  committee  of  experts  at  the  beginning  and  again  at  the  end  of  the  experiment. 

Page  539 

4.  Gains. — The  average  daily  gain  per  horse  in  experiment  No.  1  varied  from 
1.88  pounds  made  by  lot  3,  to  2.98  pounds  made  by  lot  2.    Lot  2  made  30  percent 
more  gains  than  lot  1,  while  lot  3  made  18  percent  less  than  lot  1.        Page  531 

The  average  daily  gain  per  horse  in  experiment  No.  2  varied  from  2.12  to 
2.44  pounds  made  by  lots  1  and  3  respectively.  Page  543 

The  largest  gain  of  a  single  horse  in  experiment  No.  1  was  made  by  No.  11 
of  lot  2,  which  gained  297  pounds  in  84  days,  or  an  average  of  3.54  pounds  per 
day.  During  the  first  28  days  he.  made  a  daily  gain  of  4.75  pounds.  Page  532 

The  largest  gains  in  experiment  No.  2  was  made  by  No.  48  of  lot  2,  which 
gained  363  pounds  in  112  days,  or  ,an  average  of  3.24  pounds  per  day.  Page  544 

5.  Because  oil  meal  is  an  expensive  feed  and  is  used  in  small  amounts  with 
other  grains  it  is  very  important  in  horse  feeding  that  only  the  best  quality 
should  be  used.  Page  541 

6.  The  horses  receiving  the  clover  hay  in  experiment  No.  1  had  better  appe- 
tites, making  it  easier  to  keep  them  on  feed,  drank  more  water,  were  in  better 
general  thrift,  and  took  on  a  better  market  finish  than  those  receiving  timothy 
hay.  Page  534 

There  was  no  visible  difference  between  the  rations  in  experiment  No.  2  so 
far  as  the  effect  on  the  market  condition  of  the  horses  was  concerned.  The 
horses  receiving  corn  and  clover  hay  did  not  have  as  keen  an  appetite  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  experiment  as  those  receiving  corn,  oats  and  clover  hay. 
The  horses  receiving  corn  supplemented  with  bran  and  fed  with  clover  hay  tired 
of  the  bran  during  the  last  six  weeks.  Page  546 

7.  The  horses   getting  exercise  made  41   pounds  less  gain  per  head  or  an 
average  of  nearly  y2  pound  less  per  day  than  those  not  getting  exercise.     Page  547 

8.  Seventeen  horses  in  experiment  No.  1  made  an  average  gain  of  192  pounds, 
which  were  worth  25.3  cents  per  pound,  or  a  total  of  $48.53.  Page  535 

Twenty  horses  in  experiment  No.  2  made  an  average  gain  of  257.7  pounds, 
which  were  worth  18  cents  per  pound,  or  a  total  of  $46.25.  Page  548 

9.  The  cost  of  producing  gains  with  corn,  bran  and  clover  hay  in  experiment 
No.  1  was  8.5  cents  per  pound ;  with  corn,  oats,  bran  and  clover  hay  was  7.4 
cents;  with  corn,  oats,  bran  and  timothy  hay  was  12.1  cents.  Page  537 

The  cost  of  producing  gains  with  corn  and  clover  hay  in  experiment  No.  2 
was  12  cents  per  pound;  with  24  corn  and  J4  oats  with  clover  hay  it  was  12.3 
cents;  with  one-half  oats  and  one-half  corn  with  clover  hay,  12.7  cents;  with 
four-fifths  corn  and  one-fifth  bran  with  clover  hay  12.4  cents.  Page  549 

10.  Conclusions Page  553 

524 


RELATIVE    EFFICIENCY    OF    DIFFERENT 

RATIONS   FOR   FLESHING   HORSES 

FOR   MARKET 

BY  R.  C.  OBRECHT,  ASSISTANT  CHIEF  IN  HOKSE  HUSBANDRY 


The  fleshing  of  horses  for  market  is  a  subject  that  has  received 
but  little  consideration  from  investigators  altho  the  business  is  one  of 
considerable  magnitude  and  importance  thruout  the  middle  west. 
The  profits  or  losses  resulting  from  this  industry  are  determined  by  a 
number  of  factors,  some  of  which  are  as  follows :  The  market  class 
and  grade  of  horses  selected ;  the  initial  cost  of  the  horses ;  their  sound- 
ness ;  the  cost  of  feeds ;  the  efficiency  of  the  ration  for  producing  gains ; 
the  methods  employed  in  feeding;  the  length  of  time  necessary  to  feed 
to  secure  the  desired  finish;  the  retaining  of  health  and  soundness  of 
the  horses  during  the  feeding  period ;  and  the  season  when  marketed. 

It  was  found  that  most  practical  feeders  follow  the  plan  of  using 
the  feeds  they  can  buy  locally  and  then  resorting  to  condiments,  such 
as  stock  foods,  "black  strap"  molasses,  a  cheap  grade  of  brown  New 
Orleans  sugar,  etc.,  for  keeping  up  the  appetite  of  their  horses.  Their 
opinion  as  to  the  efficiency  and  economy  of  feeds  and  appetizers  used  is 
most  generally  based  simply  upon  personal  observations.  Because  of 
these  facts  it  was  thought  desirable  to  determine  the  relative  value  of 
some  of  the  common  feeding  stuffs  used  thruout  the  State  of  Illinois. 

OBJECT  OF  THE  EXPERIMENTS 

The  main  object  of  these  experiments  was  to  secure  data  for  a 
comparison  of  rations  for  feeding  horses,  as  follows :  Corn  and  oil 
meal ;  corn,  oats,  and  oil  meal ;  corn,  bran,  and  oil  meal ;  corn,  oats, 
bran,  and  oil  meal ;  when  fed  in  connection  with  clover  hay,  or  with 
timothy  hay,  with  respect  to  the  following  points : 

1.  The  rapidity  and  extent  of  gains. 

2.  The  economy  of  gains  as  measured  by   feed  con- 
sumed. 

3.  The  nature  of  the  gains  as  affecting  conformation 
and  ultimately  the  commercial  value. 

4.  The  relative  profit  to  the  feeder  after  considering  all 
items  of  expense  and  income. 

Another  object  was  to  secure  data  upon  the  influence  of  exercise 
on  horses  in  taking  on  of  flesh  together  with  methods  of  stabling. 

Observations  were  also  made  in  regard  to  the  individuality  of  the 
horses  used  in  the  different  lots  in  order  to  determine,  if  possible,  the 
type  and  cojtformation  best  suited  for  feeding  purposes ;  ,those  making 
the  largest  gains  as  well  as  finishing  into  the  most  desirable  market 
animals. 

525 


526  BULLETIN  No.  141  [November. 

EXPERIMENT  NO.  1 
PLAN  OF  THE  EXPERIMENT 

In  planning  this  experiment  it  was  thought  desirable  to  determine 
the  relative  efficiency  of  timothy  hay  and  clover  hay  when  each  was 
fed  in  conjunction  with  corn,  oats,  bran,  and  oil  meal,  for  the  reason 
that  a  majority  of  farmers  consider  timothy  hay  the  best  roughage 
for  work  horses,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  some  horse  feeders 
using  pure  timothy  or  a  mixed  hay  of  timothy  and  clover  in  fleshing 
horses  for  market.  A  grain  ration  of  corn,  bran,  and  oil  meal  was 
also  compared  with  one  in  which  one-half  the  corn  was  replaced  with 
oats  and  in  both  instances  fed  in  conjunction  with  clover  hay.  Briefly 
stated  then,  the  plan  of  the  experiment  was  a  direct  comparison  of  corn 
with  a  mixed  ration  of  corn  and  oats,  and  of  clover  hay  with  timothy 
hay,  as  rations  for  fleshing  horses  for  market  in  an  eighty- four  day 
feeding  period.  If  the  preliminary  feeding  period  were  added  to  the 
eighty-four  days  it  would  make  the  entire  period  almost  equal  to  the 
time  usually  required  to  put  thin  horses  into  marketable  condition, 
which  is  from  100  to  120  days. 

For  convenience,  the  time  was  divided  into  three  periods  of 
twenty-eight  days  each.  The  initial  weights  of  the  horses  were  se- 
cured by  weighing  them  on  three  consecutive  days,  and  taking  the 
average  of  the  weights.  In  each  instance  the  horses  were  weighed 
after  they  were  fed  grain  and  hay  in  the  morning,  but  before  they  were 
watered.  This  same  plan  was  carried  out  in  securing  the  weights  at 
the  close  of  each  period  of  twenty-eight  days,  the  first  weights  being 
taken  on  the  day  prior,  and  the  last  weights  on  the  day  subsequent  to 
the  dates  marking  the  close  of  the  periods. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  experiment  the  horses  were  examined  by 
a  committee  of  expert  horsemen,  consisting  of  Mr.  L.  M.  Newgass  of 
the  horse  commission  firm  of  Newgass  &  Son,  Chicago,  Mr.  Nels 
Nelson  of  Paxton,  a  local  dealer  who  buys  for  a  Chicago  sale  stable, 
and  Mr.  C.  E.  Smith  of  Tuscola,  an  extensive,  experienced  feeder  of 
heavy  horses  and  a  well  known  judge.  Mr.  Smith  often  consigns  fin- 
ished horses  to  the  Chicago  market. 

This  committee  was  asked  to  pass  judgment  as  to  the  market 
value  of  the  horses,  taking  as  their  standard  country  prices.  They 
were  also  asked  as  to  their  judgment  concerning  the  uniformity  of  the 
lots.  This  same  committee  (Mr.  Newgass  being  absent)  visited  the 
University  again  at  the,  close  of  the  experiment  and  placed  values  on 
the  horses  in  their  finished  form.  The  committee  was  asked  to  take  a 
stationary  market  as  their  basis  from  which  to  work  in  order  to  avoid 
any  unusual  conditions  that  might  arise  thru  market  fluctuations  and 
thus  it  was  possible  to  secure  data  on  the  basis  of  a  steady  market. 
From  the  values  assigned  to  the  horses  by  this  committee,  all  compu- 
tations are  made  concerning  profits  or  losses.  The  writer  desires  to 
acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to  these  gentlemen  for  their  gratuitous 
services  which  have  been  of  great  value  and  importance  in  this  experi- 
ment. 


1909]  FLUSHING  HORSKS  KOK  MARKKT  527 

STABLING  AND  WATERING 

The  horses  were  stabled  in  the  basement  of  the  general  stock  and 
storage  barn  of  the  University  South  Farm,  which  is  better  lighted  and 
ventilated  than  the  basement  of  the  average  barn  of  this  kind.  They 
were  tied  in  single  stalls,  4'  8"  x  9'  and  kept  there  without  exercise 
from  the  beginning  of  the  experiment  until  the  close,  except  on  weigh 
days  and  at  a  few  intervals  when  it  was  desirable  to  have  them  out  for 
inspection.  When  weighed  they  did  not  walk  more  than  fifteen  rods 
in  going  to  and  returning  from  the  scales. 

The  floor  of  the  stable  was  paved  with  brick,  with  the  exception 
of  five  stalls,  which  were  earth.  The  mangers  and  feed  boxes  were  of 
the  usual  kind,  built  of  wood  in  one  end  of  the  stall,  and  the  feed  was 
taken  in  from  the  rear,  beside  the  horse.  It  was  originally  intended  to 
have  water  before  them  in  pails  at  all  times  but  after  a  short  trial  it 
was  found  that  they  would  very  soon  befoul  it  and  through  their  mis- 
chievousness,  mash  the  pails.'  For  this  reason  the  plan  was  abandoned 
and  for  a  short  time  they  were  given  water  five  times  daily.  They  did 
not  drink  enough  at  the  second  and  fourth  watering  to  justify  the 
continuance  of  this  plan,  so  for  the  remainder  of  the  test  they  received 
water  three  times  daily. 

HORSES  USED 

Eighteen  head  of  horses  (five  mares  and  thirteen  geldings)  were 
used  in  this  experiment.  They  were  divided  into  three  lots  of  six 
horses  each,  and  each  horse  was  tagged  with  a  numbered  label.  The 
division  was  made  with  the  view  of  securing  as  nearly  as  possible  uni- 
form lots,  considering  size,  conformation,  quality  and  condition.  One 
of  these  horses  had  been  on  the  University  farm  and  was  just  out  of 
work,  while  the  others  were  purchased  in  Central  Iowa  and  Illinois. 
They  were  received  at  the  University  of  Illinois  from  January  17  to 
27,  1906.  Nothing  was  known  of  the  previous  treatment  or  history 
of  the  horses,  but  judging  from  their  appearance,  probably  most  of 
them  had  not  been  stabled  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  winter,  but 
perhaps  had  been  given  the  run  of  a  stalk  field  and  straw  stack,  which 
is  the  treatment  often  given  to  farm  horses  that  are  not  used  during 
the  winter ;  a  few,  however,  showed  signs  of  better  care.  They  were 
classed  as  eastern  chunks,  with  two  exceptions,  these  being  a  little 
smaller  and  lighter  boned  than  the  others,  were  classed  as  farm 
chunks. 

They  ranged  in  age  from  four  to  seven  years,  were  sound,  of  good 
color  (seven  grays,  seven  bays,  three  browns,  and  one  black),  and 
apparently  in  good  health  when  they  arrived  at  the  University  farm. 
Judging  from  appearances,  they  had  a  greater  percentage  of  Percheron 
blood  than  that  of  any  other  breed,  altho  there  were  evidences  of  Shire 
blood  in  some  of  them. 

PRELIMINARY  FEEDING. 

The  preliminary  feeding  lasted  eleven  to  twenty-one  days,  varying 
according  to  the  time  of  their  arrival  at  the  University.  This  seemed 
necessary  in  order  to  get  the  horses  accustomed  to  their  new  condi- 


528  BULLETIN  No.  141  [November, 

tions  and  surroundings,  and  other  matters  adjusted.  During  this  time 
they  all  received  a  ration  composed  of  one-half  corn,  one-half  oats, 
and  clover  hay.  At  first  they  received  12  pounds  grain  and  14  pounds 
clover  hay  per  horse  daily.  Later  the  hay  was  increased  to  16  pounds 
per  horse  daily,  which  amount  they  received  up  to  February  6,  the 
beginning  of  the  experiment  proper. 

It  may  seem  to  the  experienced  feeder  that  the  horses  were  started 
on  rather  heavy  grain  ration,  but  this  was  done  because  most  of  the 
horses  had  been  receiving  very  liberal  feeds  of  grain  for  several  days 
before  coming  to  the  University ;  and  also  because  of  the  practice  of 
most  horse  feeders  not  requiring  more  than  a  week  or  ten  days  to  get 
their  horses  to  consume  a  maximum  grain  ration.  In  this  experiment 
twenty-two  to  thirty-two  days  were  required,  including  the  preliminary 
feeding,  to  get  the  horses  on  full  feed,  or  twelve  days  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  experiment  proper. 

METHODS  OF  FEEDING  AND  RATIONS  FED 

The  grain  was  divided  into  three  feeds  daily  and  given  at  6  a.  m., 
11:30  a.  m.,  and  5  p.  m.  The  grain  for  each  horse  was  weighed  in 
pails  for  each  feed.  After  getting  the  horses  on  full  feed,  the  quan- 
tity of  grain  fed  was  determined  by  the  time  required  for  consuming 
it,  and  by  the  avidity  of  their  appetite,  they  being  required  to  clean"  up 
their  trough  before  the  next  feed  was  given. 

The  hay  was  fed  twice  daily,  morning  and  evening,  and  usually 
in  equal  amounts.  Each  feed  was  weighed  separately  in  bags  made 
for  this  purpose.  They  were  given  all  they  would  consume,  but  were 
not  allowed  to  waste  any.  When  they  did  not  consume  what  was 
given,  it  was  weighed  back  and  deducted  from  the  amount  fed ;  but 
this  did  not  often  occur. 

Anticipating  some  difficulty  in  lot  3  (timothy  hay  horses),  it  was 
thought  best  to  introduce  some  bran  and  keep  salt  before  them  at  all 
times.  This  was  done  to  avoid  danger  of  colic,  since  timothy  hay  is 
rather  constipating  when  fed  with  corn  and  oats  to  horses  not  receiv- 
ing exercise.  It  was  thought  salt  would  stimulate  thirst  and  a  liberal 
consumption  of  water.  This,  together  with  the  bran  mash,  served  as  a 
laxative  and  as  a  result,  in  the  eighty-four  days  test  only  one  case  of 
colic  occurred  in  the  lot.  For  the  sake  of  having  the  results  compar- 
able, bran  was  also  introduced  into  the  rations  of  lots  1  and  2.  The 
quantity  of  bran  fed  was  largely  determined  by  the  amount  the  horses 
in  lot  3  would  readily  consume,  which  at  most  was  3  pounds  daily. 
Some  of  the  horses  in  lots  1  and  2  would  not  consume  as  much,  hence 
the  quantity  fed  to  them  was  reduced.  Xo.  7  of  lot  1,  toward  the  end 
of  the  experiment,  became  so  affected  by  the  laxative  food  that  it 
became  necessary  to  omit  the  bran  mash. 

The  bran  part  of  the  ration  was  not  introduced  until  a  week  after 
the  beginning  of  the  experiment,  and  was  given  in  the  form  of  a  wet 
mash  before  the  noon  feed.  The  grain  at  this  time  was  reduced  in 
amount,  equivalent  to  the  dry  bran  fed. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  second  period  it  seemed  doubtful  if  the 
horses  would  be  finished  and  free  from  their  old  hair  by  the  time  set 


1909]  FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET  520 

to  close  the  experiment.  This  was  especially  true  with  the  horses  in 
lot  3.  For  this  reason,  it  seemed  desirable  to  introduce  some  oil  meal 
into  the  ration  of  all  the  lots.  It  was  fed  during  the  last  period  only 
and  the  quantity  was  uniform  in  all  the  lots  beginning  with  l/2  pound 
daily  per  horse,  and  increasing  it  to  1  pound  per  horse  for  the  second 
week  of  the  period.  The  third  week,  it  was  increased  to  l*/2  pounds 
and  the  fourth  week  to  2  pounds  per  head  daily. 
The  rations  fed  were  as  follows : 

Lot  1.     Corn,  bran,  oil  meal  (old  process),  clover  hay. 

'Lot  2.     Corn,  oats,  bran,  oil  meal  (old  process),  clover  hay. 

Lot  3.     Corn,  oats,  bran,  oil  meal  (old  process),  timothy  hay. 

QUALITY  AND  COST  OF  FEEDS 

The  corn  was  a  good  quality  of  shelled  No.  2  yellow.  The  oats 
were  No.  2  white,  and  of  good  quality.  The  bran  was  of  good  grade 
from  Minneapolis,  Minnesota  mills.  The  oil  meal  was  old  process 
meal,  pea  size.  The  clover  hay  was  choice  grade  and  free  from  dust 
(medium  red  variety).  The  timothy  hay  graded  choice  altho  the 
quality  was  not  quite  as  good  as  the  clover. 

The  following  were  prevailing  farm  prices  at  the  time  the  experi- 
ment was  conducted,  but  other  prices  have  been  used  showing  how  it 
modifies  or  changes  the  results. 

Corn  at  35c  per  bu.  or $12.50  per  ton 

Oats  at  30c  per  bu.  or 18.75 

Bran 20.00 

Oil  meal  (O.  P.  pea  size) 27 . 00 

Clover  hay 8.00 

Timothy  hay 9.00 

HEALTH  AND  THRIFT  OF  HORSES 

The  experiment  had  been  in  progress  but  eighteen  days  when  two 
of  the  horses  in  lot  3,  Nos.  17  and  18,  had  an  attack  of  distemper 
(strangles).  They  were  immediately  isolated  from  the  other  horses 
and  none  of  the  others  became  affected.  No.  17  had  a  light  attack- 
while  No.  18  had  it  much  more  severely,  and  did  not  recover  in  time 
to  continue  in  the  experiment.  By  the  end  of  the  first  period  No.  17 
was  again  on  feed  and  consuming  14  pounds  of  corn  and  oats  and  16 
pounds  of  clover.  As  it  was  desirable,  if  possible,  to  keep  her  eating 
and  from  losing  flesh  during  the  attack,  clover  hay,  being  more  pal- 
atable, was  substituted  for  timothy.  Because  of  the  doubtful  charac- 
ter of  No.  17's  condition  after  her  sickness  and  an  inequality  in  the 
average  money  values  between  lots  2  and  3,  it  was  thought  best  to 
transfer  No.  9  to  lot  3  and  No.  17  to  lot  2.  I  Up  to  this  time  No.  9  of 
lot  2  showed  indications  of  being  one  of  the  best  feeders,  gaining  132 
pounds  during  the  first  period.  On  account  of  the  abnormal  behavior 
of  Nos.  9  and  17  from  this  time  until  the  close  of  the  experiment,  the 
data  from  both  these  horses  was  rejected  from  the  final  results.  In 
the  last  two  periods  No.  9  ate  approximately  an  average  amount  of 
feed,  but  only  made  a  total  gain  of  40  pounds.  -In  the  second  and 
third  periods  No.  17  ate  a  little  more  than  an  average  amount  of  feed 
and  made  a  total  gain  of  250  pounds,  as  much  as  the  average  horse  of 


530 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


{November, 


lot  2  made  in  the  three  periods.  Had  No.  17  been  fed  for  twenty- 
eight  days  longer,  it  is  fair  to  suppose  that  she  would  have  maintained 
relatively  the  same  ratio  of  gain  as  the  average  horses  of  lot  2,  thus 
making  90  pounds  more,  since  she  always  maintained  a  keen  appetite. 

No.  13  of  lot  1  was  also  rejected  from  the  final  results  as  he  made 
a  total  gain  of  only  80  pounds  for  the  entire  time,  which  is  much  below 
the  normal.  Evidently  there  must  have  been  something  wrong 
with  this  horse,  as  he  weighed  10  pounds  less  at  the  end  of  the  second 
period  than  he  did  at  the  beginning  of  that  period.  Later  he  was  put 
on  a  ration  of  corn  and  oats,  on  which  he  seemed  to  thrive  somewhat 
better. 

No.  4  of  lot  2  also  had  to  be  rejected.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
third  period  he  bruised  his  withers  from  rubbing  in  the  stall  and  de- 
veloped a  fistula.  Up  to  this  time  he  made  more  than  the  average 
gain  for.  the  lot. 

TABLE  1.    AVERAGE  DAILY  RATION  AND  TOTAL  FEED  PER  HORSE  (POUNDS) 


Lot 
No. 

Feeds 

Periods 

Average 
Feb.  6  to 
May  1,  '06 
84  days 

Total  feed 
per  horse 
Feb.  6  to 
May  1,  '06 
84  days 

(1) 
Feb.  6  to 
Mar.  6,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Mar.  6  to 
Apr.  3,  '06 
28  days 

(3) 
Apr.  3  to 
May  1,  '06 
28  days 

Lot  1 
(5  horses) 

Corn  

16.19 
2.15 

17.16 

18.1 

2.8 

18.7 
2.14 
1.23 
10.95 

17.7 
2.37 

1483.4 
198.7 
34.3 
1164.5 

Bran  

Oil  meal.  .  . 
Clover  hay 

13.49 

13.86 

Lot  2 
(4  horses) 

Corn  

8.03 
8.03 
1.99 

17  .00 

8.66 
8.66 
2.59 

9.16 
9.16 
2.66 
1.22 
10.12 

8.62 
8.62 
2.41 

723.84 
723.84 
202.6 
34.1 
1153.7 

Oats  

Bran  

Oil  meal.  .  . 
Clover  hay. 

14.01 

13.73 

Lot  3 
(4  horses) 

Corn  
Oats   .    . 

8.06 
8.06 
2.29 

16.92 

8.62 
8.62 
2.96 

8.45 
8.22 
2.51 
1.21 
12.42 

8.38 
8.3 
2.59 

704.0 
697.1 
217.2 
34.0 
1234.1 

Bran  

Oil  meal.  .  . 
Timothy  .. 

14.74 

14.69 

Table  1  gives  the  average  daily  ration  per  horse  by  periods,  for 
the  eighty-four  days,  and  the  total  feed  consumed  per  horse  during  the 
experiment.  A  careful  study  of  the  table  will  show  that  all  the  lots 
received  approximately  the  same  amount  of  feed  daily,  the  most 
noticeable  difference  being  in  the  smaller  quantity  of  hay  consumed  by 
lots  1  and  2,  which  was  less  during  the  second  and  third  periods 
than  that  of  lot  3.  While  lot  3  consumed  the  most  hay,  it  also  con- 
sumed the  least  grain  during  the  third  period. 

Table  1  also  shows  a  gradual  increase  in  the  amount  of  grain  con- 
sumed daily  by  all  the  lots.  The  increase  is  much  more  marked,  how- 
ever, in  lots  1  and  2  than  in  lot  3.  This  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
horses  in  lots  1  and  2  maintained  a  much  better  appetite  than  those  in 
lot  3  during  the  latter  part  of  the  experiment.  Because  of  this  it  made 
it  easier  to  regulate  the  ration  of  lots  1  and  2,  as  there  was  less  danger 


1909J 


FLESHING  HORSKS  FOR  MARKET 


531 


from  over-feeding  than  there  was  with  lot  3  (the  horses  getting  tim- 
othy hay). 

TABLE  2.    AVERAGE  DAILY  RATION  PER   1000  POUNDS  LIVE  WEIGHT 


., 

Periods 

Lot 

No. 

Feeds 

(1) 
Feb.  6  to 
Mar.  6,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Mar.  6   to 
Apr   3,  '06 
28  days 

(3) 
Apr.  3  to 
May  1,  '06 
28  days 

all  periods 
Feb.  6  to 
May  1,  '06 
84  days 

Corn  

11.64 

12.37 

12.35 

12.25 

Bran  

1.55 

1.91 

1.41 

1.64 

Lot  1 

Oil  meal 

.81 

Clover  hay.  .  . 

12.33 

9.21 

7.23 

9.62 

Corn          .  :  .  . 

5.68 

5.75 

5.82 

5.818 

Oats  

5.68 

5.75 

5.82 

5.818 

Lot  2 

Bran  

1.41 

1.71 

1.69 

1.628 

Oil  meal 

.77 

Clover  hay.  .  . 

12.02 

9.30 

6.43 

9.270 

Corn  

5.97 

6.17 

5.85 

5.99 

Oats  

5.97 

6.17 

5.69 

5.93 

Lot  3 

Bran  

1.70 

2.12 

1.74 

1.85 

Oil  meal 

.84 

Timothy.  .  .  . 

12.54 

10.55 

8.60 

i          10.51 

TABLE  3.    AVERAGE  WEIGHT  AND  GAIN  PER  HORSE  BY  PERIODS  AND  TOTAL  GAINS 


Lot 
No. 

Feeds 

Periods 

Total  gain 
Feb.  6  to 
May  1,  '06 
84  days 

(1) 
Feb.  6  to 
Mar.  6,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Mar.  6  to 
Apr.  3,  '06 
28  days 

(3) 

Apr.  3  to 
May  1,  '06 
28  days 

Lot  1 

Corn  

Wt.  at  beginning 
Wt.  at  end  

1345 
1437 
92 
3.3 

1437 
1491 
54 
1.9 

1491 
1537 
46 
1.6 

1345 
1537 
192 
2.29 

Bran  

Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Lbs.  gain  
Av.  daily  gain.  .  . 

Lot  2 

Corn  (L$). 
Oats  (K)- 
Bran  
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover 

Wt.  at  beginning 
Wt.  at  end  

1356 
1472 
116 
4.1 

1472 
1540 
68 
2.4 

1540 
1606 
66 
2.4 

1356 
1606 
250 
2.98 

Lbs.  gain  
Av.  daily  gain.  .  . 

Lot  3 

Corn  (Y2). 
Oats  (K)- 
Bran  
Oil  meal.  . 
Timothy  . 

Wt.  at  beginning 
Wt  at  end  .  .  . 

1319 
1379 
60 
2.14 


1379 
1415 
36 
1.29 

1415 

1477 
62 
2.22 

1319 
1477 
158 
1.88 

Lbs.  gain  
Av.  daily  gain.  .  . 

Table  2  gives  the  average  daily  ration  per  thousand  pounds  live 
weight.  When  compared  on  this  basis  it  will  again  be  seen  that  lot  3 
consumed  more  hay  during  the  second  and  third  periods  than  either 
of  the  other  two  lots.  Lot  3  consumed  nearly  as  much  grain  per  thou- 
sand pounds  live  weight  as  lot  1,  and  slightly  more  than  lot  2.  While 
there  was  a  gradual  increase  in  quantity  of  grain  consumed  in  the  sec- 
ond and  third  periods,  as  shown  in  Table  1,  it  is  interesting  to  note 


532  BULLETIN  No.  141  [Novembet, 

that  the  total  amount  of  feed  consumed  per  thousand  pounds  live 
weight  decreased  as  the  experiment  progressed. 

Table  3  gives  the  average  weight  and  gain  per  horse  and  the  total 
gains  during  the  experiment.  It  shows  lot  2  to  be  11  pounds  heavier 
than  lot  1,  and  37  pounds  heavier  than  lot  3  at  the  beginning  of  the 
experiment.  This  inequality  in  the  initial  weights  between  lots  2  and 
3  is  due  largely  to  the  fact  that  the  two  horses  which  were  discarded 
from  lot  3  were  heavier  than  the  average  of  the  lot. 

The  most  interesting  part  of  this  table  is  that  which  shows  the 
gains  made  by  the  various  lots.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  horses  of 
lot  2  made  an  average  gain  of  250  pounds,  or  58  pounds  more  than 
those  of  lot  1,  and  92  pounds  more  than  those  of  lot  3.  Had  No.  17 
of  lot  2  been  fed  for  twenty-eight  days  longer  and  we  were  to  add  the 
estimated  gain  of  90  pounds  to  the  250  pounds  of  actual  gain  made,  it 
would  give  a  total  gain  of  340  pounds  for  the  eighty-four  days.  This 
added  to  the  total  gains  made  by  the  four  horses  of  lot  2,  would  give 
an  average  gain  per  horse  of  268  pounds.  When  compared  on  a  per- 
centage basis  lot  2  made  30  percent  more  gain  than  lot  1  while  lot  3 
made  18  percent  less  than  lot  1.  This  helps  to  emphasize  the  striking 
difference  in  the  relative  efficiency  of  the  rations  of  lots  2  and  3  for 
producing  gains. 

From  these  results  we  must  conclude  that,  so  far  as  gains  are  con- 
cerned, a  mixed  grain  ration  of  corn  and  oats  is  superior  to  a  straight 
corn  ration  when  fed  in  conjunction  with  clover  hay;  and  clover  hay 
is  much  more  valuable  than  timothy  hay  when  fed  in  conjunction  with 
corn  and  oats. 

It  is  also  interesting  to  note  the  extent  of  the  gains  of  the  various 
lots  as  made  by  periods.  In  lots  1  and  2,  the  largest  gains  were  made 
during  the  first  period,  the  gains  gradually  decreasing  until  the  close 
of  the  experiment.  This  was  not  the  case  with  lot  3,  a  probable  rea- 
son for  which  will  be  given  later.  The  average  daily  gain  of  the 
horses  of  lots  1  and  2  is  considered  very  satisfactory,  while  that  of  lot 
3  is  not.  The  largest  gains  of  any  individual  horse  were  made  by  No. 
11  of  lot  2  during  the  first  period,  in  which  he  gained  133  pounds  in 
twenty-eight  days  or  an  average  of  4.75  pounds  per  day.  No.  9  of  lot 
3,  which  was  fed  in  lot  2  (on  corn,  oats,  bran,  and  clover  hay)  for  the 
first  period,  made  a  gain  of  132  pounds,  but  in  the  next  two  periods, 
when  fed  on  the  same  grain  and  on  timothy  hay,  only  made  a  total 
gain  of  40  pounds,  while  No.  11,  continuing  on  clover  hay  during  the 
same  time,  made  164  pounds  gain.  Nos.  12  and  16  of  lot  3  made  the 
smallest  gains  of  any  of  the  horses  in  the  experiment,  an  average  of 
135  pounds  for  the  total  time. 

TABLE  4.     POUNDS  OF  DRY  MATTER  PER  POUND  OF  GAIN 


Lot 

No. 

Feb.  6  to 
Mar.  6,  '06 

Mar.  6  to 
Apr.  3,  '06 

Apr.  3  to 
May  1,  '06 

Average  Feb.  6 
to  May  1,  '06 

Lot  1 
Lot  2 
Lot  3 

9.393 

7.352 
T'  14.332 

15.57 
12.21 
23.683 

17.61 
12.024 
12.957 

13.1 
9.907 
15.923 

1909| 


FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET 


533 


In  Table  4  which  gives  the  pounds  of  dry  matter  per  pound  of 
gain,  it  will  be  noticed  that  where  the  gains  were  small  the  relative 
amount  of  dry  matter  was  large,  and  that  where  the  gains  were  large 
the  amount  of  dry  matter  was  small.  This  table  serves  in  another  way 
to  emphasize  the  relative  efficiency  of  the  ration  of  lot  2  over  that  of 
lots  1  and  3. 


TABLE  5.     AVERAGE  DRY   MATTER  AND  DIGESTIBLE   NUTRIENTS  PER    1000  POUNDS 

LIVE  WEIGHT  PER  DAY 


Periods 

Lot 
No. 

Feeds 

(1) 
Feb.  6  to 
Mar.  6,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Mar.  6  to 
Apr.  3,  '06 
28  days 

(3) 
Apr.  3  to 
May  1,  '06 
28  days 

Average 
Feb.  6  to 
May  1,  '06 
,84  days 

Corn.  .  .  . 

Dry  matter. 

22.  19 

20.51 

19.  11 

20.6 

Lot  1 

Bran.  .  .  . 
Oil  meal. 
Clover  .  . 

Digest,  protein.  . 
carbohy. 
fat  

1.6 
13.04 
.917 

1.51 
12.48 
.835 

1.58 
11.77 
.889 

1.56 
12.43 
.88 

Nut   ratio        .  .  . 

1-9.5 

1-9.4 

1-8.7 

1:9.2 

Corn(^) 

Dry  matter  

21.54 

19.68 

18.02 

19.75 

Lot  2 

Oats(H) 
Bran.  .  .  . 
Oil  meal. 

Digest,  protein.  . 
carbohy. 
fat  

1.65 
11.67 
.778 

1.54 
10.86 

.745 

1.61 
9.88 

.752 

1.6 

10.80 
.758 

Clover  .  . 

Nut.  ratio  

1  :8.  1 

1-8.1 

1-7.2 

1-7.8 

Corn  (14) 

Dry  matter. 

22.77 

21  .8 

19.88 

21.48 

Lot  3 

Oats  (J^) 
Bran.  .  .  . 
Oil  meal. 

Digest,  protein  .  . 
carbohy. 
fat  

1.33 

12.26 
.775 

1.36 

12.55 
.776 

1.45 
11.38 
.762 

1.38 
12.06 
.771 

Timothy. 

Nut.  ratio  

1:10.5 

1:10.5 

1:9.0 

1:10.0 

In  rinding  the  average  dry  matter  and  digestible  nutrients  con- 
sumed per  thousand  pounds  live  weight  per  day  by  periods,  and  for 
the  average  of  all  periods>  the  average  weight  of  the  horse  was  taken. 
In  obtaining  this  average  weight  of  the  horse,  the  initial  weight  and 
final  weight  of  the  period,  or  the  experiment,  as  the  case  may  be,  were 
added  and  the  result  divided  by  two. 

By  examining  Table  5  it  will  be  seen  that  the  average  daily  dry 
matter  decreases  each  succeeding  period.  While  lot  2  made  the 
largest  total  gains,  it  will  be  s.een  they  consumed  the  smallest  amount 
of  dry  matter  per  thousand  pounds  live  weight;  whereas,  lot  3  made 
the  smallest  gains  and  consumed  the  largest  amount  of  dry  matter  per 
thousand  pounds  live  weight.1  This  table  also  shows  that  lot  2  re- 
ceived more  protein  than  either  of  the  other  lots  and  a  smaller  amount 
of  carbohydrates.  Lot  3  was  the  only  one  in  which  the  total  amount 
of  protein  received  was  gradually  increased  during  each  period.  While 
lot  3  received  more  pounds  of  dry  matter  per  thousand  pounds  live 
weight,  it  also  received  less  digestible  nutrients  than  lot  1,  and  less  di- 
gestible protein  than  either  lot  1  or  lot  2.  It  will  also  be  noticed  that 
the  nutritive  ratio  in  all  the  lots  gradual! v  narrowed  toward  the  end  of 


534  BULLETIN  No.  141  [November, 

the  experiment,  and  was  considerably  wider  in  lot  3  than  in  either  of 
the  other  lots. 

In  Table  3  it  was  shown  that  lot  3  made  slightly  more  gain  in 
Period  3  than  at  any  other  time.  They  also  received  more  protein 
during  this  period  and  a  considerably  narrower  ration  as  is  shown  in 
Table  5.  A  reasonable  explanation  for  the  increased  gain  at  this  time 
is  that  these  horses  in  lot  3  had  not  been  receiving  enough  protein  in 
the  ration  prior  to  this  to  permit  of  large  gains,  and  with  the  addition 
of  oil  meal  gave  an  increase  in  protein  and  also  an  increase  in  gain. 

A  brief  review  of  the  matter  given  indicates  that  a  ration  with  a 
nutritive  ratio  of  1  to  8  is  more  efficient  for  producing  gains  with 
horses  than  one  with  a  wider  nutritive  ratio.  For  the  reason  that 
timothy  hay  contains  a  small  percent  of  protein,  it  is  poorly  suited  as 
the  roughage  part  of  the  ration,  when  fed  in  conjunction  with  corn 
and  oats,  for  producing  gains.  Since  oats  contain  more  digestible 
protein  than  corn,  and  because  it  adds  variety  to  the  ration,  it  is  a 
valuable  adjunct  to  corn  when  fed  with  clover  hay.  It  is  fair  to  pre- 
sume that  it  would  prove  even  more  valuable  when  fed  with  corn  and 
timothy  hay. 

EFFECT  OF  RATION  ON  HORSES 

It  was  noticeable  from  the  beginning  of  the  experiment  to  the 
close  that  the  horses  receiving  the  timothy  hay  never  took  on  the 
filled  appearance  and  let  down  in  the  barrel  as  did  the  horses  receiving 
the  clover  hay.  Those  receiving  the  clover  hay  always  had  better  ap- 
petites, making  it  easier  to  keep  them  on  feed,  drank  more  water,  and 
were  in  better  general  thrift  than  those  receiving  timothy  hay.  The 
horses  receiving  clover  hay  also  took  on  a  better  market  finish.  Those 
receiving  the  timothy  hay  were  not  well  let  down  in  the  flank,  and  did 
not  have  that  thick  covering  of  flesh  necessary  to  round  'out  their 
bodies  and  make  them  highly  appreciated  on  the  market.  All  the 
horses,  except  Nos.  17  and  18,  remained  in  good  health  thruout  the 
experiment.  So  far  as  could  be  observed,  clover  hay  was  not  more 
injurious  to  the  wind  of  the  horses  than  timothy  hay. 

Table  6  gives  the  valuation  of  the  horses  at  the  beginning  and  at 
the  end  of  the  experiment,  based  upon  a  stationary  market,  as  agreed 
upon  by  the  committee.  It  also  shows  the  value  of  gains  made  to  be 
worth  from  19.5  cents  to  26.6  cents  per  pound.  The  horses  of  lot  1 
were  valued  $8.00  higher  at  the  beginning  of  the  experiment  than 
those  of  lot  2,  and  $16.25  higher  than  those  of  lot  3.  This  inequality 
of  initial  valuation  is  due  somewhat  to  the  discarding  of  some  of  the 
horses  from  the  final  results.  As  originally  made  up.  lot  1  had  an 
average  valuation  of  $181.66;  lot  2,  $176.66;  and  lot  3.  $175.00. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  lot  1  increased  in  value  $51.00  per  horse; 
lot  2,  $48.75 ;  and  lot  3.  $35.00.  Lot  1  and  lot  2  were  nearly  enough 
equal  to  indicate  that  the  rations  of  these  lots  were  equally  efficient 
for  producing  increase  in  value.  The  difference  is  due  more  to  the 
individuality  and  sex  of  the  horses  than  the  efficiency  of  the  ration. 


1909J 


FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET 


535 


since  lot  1  had  one  mare  and  four  geldings,  while  lot  2  had  two  mares 
and  two  geldings.  Lot  3,  which  had  three  geldings  and  one  mare, 
was  decidedly  lacking  in  finish,  and  the  difference  in  the  relative  in- 
creased valuation  illustrates  pretty  well  what  may  be  expected  from  the 
feeding  of  this  ration. 

A  better  basis  from  which  to  compute  the  value  of  gains  is  ob- 
tained by  dividing  the  average  increased  valuation  of  the  seventeen 
horses  by  the  average  gain  in  weight.  Referring  to  the  last  line  of 
Table  6,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  increased  valuation  per  horse  was 
$48.53,  the  average  gain  192  pounds,  and  the  value  per  pound  of  in- 
creased weight  25.3  cents. 

TABLE  6.    VALUE  OF  HORSES  ON  STATIONARY  MARKET 


Lot 
No. 

Feeds 

No.  of 
horse 

Feb.  24,  '06 
first 
valuation 

May  1,  '06 
last 
valuation 

Increase 
in  value 

Lb.  in- 
crease in 
weight 

Value  per 
Lb.  of 
increase 
weight 

Lot  1 

Corn.  .  .  . 
Bran.  .  .  . 
Oil  meal. 
Clover  .  . 

1 
2 
3 
6 

5 

$  215.00 
165.00 
200.00 
190.00 
170.00 

$  260.00 
225.00 
240.00 
260.00 
210.00 

$     45.00 
60.00 
40.00 
70.00 
40.00 

Total  .  .  . 

940.00 

1195.00 

255.00 

960 

Average 

188.00- 

239.00 

51.00 

192 

26.  6c 

Lot  2 

Corn(H) 

Oats(H) 
Bran.  .  .  . 
Oil  meal. 
Clover  .  . 

2 
IS 
14 
11 

185.00 
200.00 
150.00 
185.00 

220.00 
265.00 
180.00 
250.00 

35.00 
65.00 
30.00 
65.00 

Total  .  .  . 

720.00 

915.00 

195.00 

1000 

Average 

180.00 

228.75 

48.75 

250 

19.  5c 

Lot  3 

Corn(^) 
Oats(J^) 
Bran.  .  .  . 
Oil  meal. 
Timothy 

12 
8 
10 
16 

185.00 
150.00 
165.00 
175.00 

200  .  00 
200.00 
190.00 

225.00 

15.00 
50.00 
25.00 
50.00 



Total  .  .  . 

675.00 

815.00 

140.00 

630 

Average 

168.75 

203.75 

35.00 

158 

22.  2c 

Horses 
not  used 
in  expt. 

13 
9 

17 
18 

150.00 
2  1  5  .  00 
170.004 
'  160.00 

190.00 
235.00 
265.00 
240.00 

40.00 
20.00 
95.00 
80.00 

80 
170 
250 
170 

Total  .  .  . 

695.00 

930.00 

235.00 

670 

Grand  total  of  all  horses  .  .  . 

$3030.00 

$3855.00 

$825.00 

3260 

Average  of  17  horses.  . 

$178.24 

$226.76 

$48.53 

192 

25.  3c 

536  BULLETIN  No.  141  [November, 

ITEMIZED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  No.  1 
(Per  horse) 

LOT  1 
Expenditures 

To  1  Horse  at  $188.00 $188.00 

"    1483.4  Ib.  corn  at  35c 9.27 

"    198.7  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 1.99 

"   34.3  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 46 

"    1164.5  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 4.66 


Total  expenditures    $204.38 
Receipts 
By  1  Horse $239.00 

Profit  per  horse $34.62 

LOT  2 
Expenditures 

To  1  Horse  at  $180.00 $180.00 

723.84  Ib.  corn  at  35c 4.52 

723.84  Ib.  oats  at  30c 6.79 

202.6  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 2.03 

34.1  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 46 

1153.7  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 4.61 


Total  expenditures    $198.41 
Receipts 
By  1   Horse $228.75 


Profit  per  horse $30.34 

LOT  3 
Expenditures 

To  1  Horse  at  $168.75 '. $168.75 

704  Ib.  corn  at  35c. 4.40 

697.1  Ib.  oats  at  30c 6.54 

217.2  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 - 2.17 

34  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 46 

1234.1  Ib.  timothy  hay  at  $9.00 5.55 


Total  expenditures    $187.87 
Receipts 
By  1  Horse $203.75 


Profit  per  horse $1 5.88 

From  financial  statement  No.  1,  it  will  be  seen  that  lot  1  netted 
the  largest  profit,  being  $4.28  more  per  horse  than  lot  2,  and  $18.74 
more  than  lot  3.  Results  arrived  at  in  this  way  might  be  accurate 
enough  had  a  large  number  of  animals  been  used  in  each  lot.  In  this 
test,  the  number  in  each  lot  was  too  small,  for  the  valuation  of  horses 
can  only  be  approximated  because  we  do  not  have  an  accurate  standard 
from  which  to  measure  values,  such  as  prevails  in  markets  for  cattle, 
hogs  and  sheep.  , 

It  is  shown  by  the  data  taken  from  Table  6  that  for  an  average  of 
seventeen  horses,  the  gains  made  were  worth  25. 3  cents  per  pound. 


1909)  FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKKT  537 

This  factor  should  be  fairly  accurate  because  of  the  number  of  horses 
involved.  | 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  No.  2 

(Profit  per  horse  based  on  pounds  of  gain) 

LOT  1 
Expenditures 

To  1483.4  Ib.  corn  at  35c $    9.27 

"    198.7  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 1.99 

"   34.3  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 46 

"    1164.5  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 • 4.66 


Total  cost  of  feed    $  16.38 
Receipts 
By  192  Ib.  gain  at  25.3c $  48.58 

Profit  per  horse $  32.20 


Cost  per  pound  gain  8.5  cents 

LOT  2 
Expenditures 

To  723.84  Ib.  corn  at  35c $  4.52 

"   723.84  Ib.  oats  at  30c 6.79 

"   202.6  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 • "  . . . .  2.03 

"   34.1  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 46 

"    1153.7  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 4.61 


Total  cost  of  feed    $  18.41 
Receipts 
By  250  Ib.  gain  at  25.3c $  63.25 

Profit  per  horse $  44.84 


Cost  per  pound  gain  7.4  cents 

LOT  3 
Expenditures 

To  704  Ib.  corn  at  35c $  4.40 

"   697.1  Ib.  oats  at  30c 6.54 

"    217.2  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 2.17 

"   34  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 46 

"    1234.1  Ib.  timothy  hay  at  $9.00 5.55 


Total  cost  of  feed    $  19.12 
Receipts 
By  158  Ib.  gain  at  25.3c $  39.97 


Profit  per  horse $  20.85 

Cost  per  pound  gain     12.1  cents 

A  brief  consideration  of  financial  statement  No.  2  will  show  that 
when  taken  from  the  standpoint  of  gains,  which  is  done  in  order  to 
eliminate  individuality,  the  ration  fed  lot  2  yielded  a  larger  profit  than 
that  fed  either  of  the  other  lots.  While  lot  2  gave  the  largest  profits, 
based  on  pounds  gain,  it  was  also  a  more  expensive  ration  than  that  fed 
lot  1,  but  not  so  expensive  as  that  fed  lot  3.  The  cost  per  pound  gain 
made  by  lot  2  was  less  than  either  of  the  other  lots  due  to  the  efficiency 
of  the  ration  to  produce  larger  gains.  The  cost  per  pound  gain  made 


538 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


by  lot  1  was  8.5  cents;  lot  2,  7.4  cents;  and  lot  3,  12.1  cents,  or  63  per- 
cent greater  than  that  of  lot  2. 

No  account  has  been  taken  of  the  labor  involved  in  caring  for  the 
horses  nor  the  bedding  used.  It  has  been  assumed  that  the  manure 
produced  would  offset  this  item  of  expense. 


TABLE  7. 


NET  PROFIT  FER  HORSE  AND  COST  PER  POUND  OF  GAIN  WITH  VARYING 
PRICES  OF  FEEDS 


Feeds  used  and  at  varying  prices 

With  increase 
gain  at  25  .3c 
per  Ib. 

Lot  1 

Lot  2 

Lot  3 

Corn 
Bran 
Oil  meal 
Clover 

Corn(^) 
Oats(^) 
Bran 
Oil  meal 
Clover 

Corn(^) 

Oats(H) 
Bran 
Oil  meal 
Timothy 

Corn  at  35c,  oats  at  30c,  bran  at  $20.00 
per  ton,  oil  meal  at  $27.00  per  ton, 
clover  hay  at  $8.00  per  ton,  timothy 
hay  at  $9.00  per  ton  

Net  profit.  .  .  . 

$32.39 

$45  .  09 

$21.01 

Cost  per  pound 
of  gain  

8.5c 

7.4c 

12.  Ic 

Corn  at  40c,  oats  at  35c,  bran  at  $22.00 
per  ton,  oil  meal  at  $30.00  per  ton, 
clover  hay  at  $8.00  per  ton,  timothy 
hay  at  $9.00  per  ton  

Net  profit  .... 

$30.82 

$43  .  06 

$19.02 

Cost  per  pound 
of  gain  

9.3c 

8.2c 

13.  4c 

Corn  atSOc,  oats  at  45c,  bran  at  $24.00 
per  ton,  oil  meal  at  $30.00  per  ton, 
clover  hay  at  $8.00  per  ton,  timothy 
hay  at  $9.00  per  ton  

Net  profit  

$27.97 

$39.31 

$15.37 

Cost  per  pound 
of  gain 

10.  8c 

9.7c 

15.  7c 

Corn  at  65c,  oats  at  SSc,  bran  at  $26.00 
per  ton,  oil  meal  at  $32.00  per  ton, 
clover  hay  at  $1  1.00  per  ton,  timothy 
hay  at  $12.00  per  ton  

Net  profit  

$22.02 

$33.15 

$  9.22 

Cost  per  pound 
of  gain  

13.  9c 

"12.4c 

20.  Oc 

It  will  be  seen  from  Table  7,  which  gives  the  net  profit  per  horse 
and  cost  per  pound  of  gain  with  varying  prices  of  feeds,  that  in  every 
instance  lot  2  would  return  the  largest  profit  and  make  cheaper  gains 
than  any  other  lot. 

With  corn  at  50  cents,  oats  at  45  cents  and  bran  at  $24.00  per  ton, 
there  is  still  a  nice  profit  to  be  made  as  is  shown  in  the  above  state- 
ment. With  such  conditions,  lot  2  would  return  $11.34  or  41  percent 
more  profit  per  horse  than  lot  1,  and  $23.94  or  155  percent  more  profit 
per  horse  than  lot  3.  The  higher  in  price  the  grain,  the  more  profitable 
relatively  would  be  the  ration  fed  lot  2  because  of  its  greater  efficiency 
to  produce  gains  than  that  fed  lots  1  and  3.  Even  under  such  condi- 
tions, the  rations  fed  all  the  lots  would  prove  profitable,  for  it  will  be 
seen  that  lot  3,  which  received  the  least  efficient  ration,  produced  gains 
at  a  cost  less  than  their  value  when  produced. 


1909J  FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET  539 

EXPERIMENT  NO.  2 
PLAN  OF  THE  EXPERIMENT 

This  experiment  was  planned  to  secure  more  data  upon  the  results 
of  mixing  oats  and  bran  with  corn  as  compared  with  an  all-corn  ra- 
tion, with  clover  hay  as  the  roughage  in  each  instance. 

A  comparison  was  also  made  of  the  effect  of  exercise  with  no 
exercise  upon  the  taking  on  of  flesh ;  some  of  the  horses  were  given  a 
walk  of  2.8  miles  daily,  while  others  were  kept  in  the  barn  without  any 
exercise.  Horses  allowed  the  freedom  of  a  box  stall  were  also  com- 
pared with  others  tied  in  single  stalls  without  exercise. 

The  experiment  extended  over  112  days  or  four  periods  of  28 
days  each.  The  initial  and  final  weights  of  each  period  were  secured 
by  taking  the  average  of  three  consecutive  daily  weights,  the  same  plan 
being  used  as  in  the  previous  experiment.  The  horses  were  appraised 
at  the  beginning  and  at  the  end  of  the  experiment  by  a  committee  of 
expert  horsemen.  At  the  beginning  of  the  experiment,  the  committee 
was  composed  of  Messrs.  T.  V.  Coffin  of  Champaign,  Illinois,  an  ex- 
tensive feeder  and  dealer  in  heavy  horses,  and  Dan  Sayer  of  the  com- 
mission firm  of  E.  H.  Schloeman  and  Co.,  Chicago.  It  was  intended 
to  have  the  same  committee  do  the  appraising  at  the  close  of  the  ex- 
periment, but  it  was  impossible  to  get  the  services  of  Mr.  Sayer  at  that 
time  and  so  Henry  Piosa  of  the  same  firm  substituted  for  him. 

STABLING  AND  WATERING 

The  horses  were  stabled  in  the  basement  of  the  general  stock  and 
storage  barn  of  the  University  South  Farm,  which  is  described  under 
the  above  head  in  Experiment  No.  1.  Half,  or  12  of  the  horses  were 
tied  in  single  stalls  and  the  others  were  turned  loose  in  box  stalls  about 
12  x  14  feet.  They  were  watered  three  times  daily  from  pails,  and 
given  all  the  salt  they  would  consume  by  keeping  a  small  box  of  it  in 
front  of  each  horse.  • 

HORSES  USED 

Twenty-four  head  of  geldings  varying  in  age  from  four  to  eight 
years  were  used  in  this  experiment,  and  were  divided  into  lots  of  six 
horses  each.  The  horses  were  divided  into  as  nearly  uniform  lots  as 
possible  considering  size,  conformation,  age,  quality,  condition,  and 
valuation.  It  will  be  seen  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  experiment,  lot 
4  was  about  40  pounds  heavier  than  lots  2  and  3,  and  66  pounds  heavier 
than  lot  1.  The  greater  weight  was  due  to  size  and  ruggedness  rather 
than  better  flesh.  Each  horse  was  given  a  number  for  identification, 
which  was  branded  on  his  left  front  hoof. 

They  were  native  horses,  just  out  of  work,  and  were  purchased 
from  local  dealers  in  central  Illinois  except  two  of  the  geldings,  which 
had  been  used  on  the  University  Farm  for  more  than  two  years.  Most 
of  them  showed  evidences  of  Percheron  or  Shire  breeding  tho  a  few 
had  the  characteristics  of  Belgian  blood.  Commercially  they  would 
have  been  rated  on  the  market  from  "good"  to  "choice,"  and  most  of 


540  BULLETIN  No.  141  [November, 

them  classed  as  light  draft,  while  a  few  were  eastern  chunks.  On 
the  whole  the  horses  used  in  this  experiment  were  larger,  better  and 
more  uniform  than  those  used  in  the  first  experiment.  When  they 
arrived  at  the  University,  all  of  them  were  sound  except  one  horse, 
which  had  a  hip  slightly  down.  Later  some  of  them  became  injured, 
but  at  the  end  of  the  experiment  they  were  appraised  as  sound  in  order 
to  arrive  at  the  value  of  the  flesh  taken  on. 

They  were  received  at  the  University  from  September  15  to  Sep- 
tember 24,  1906,  and  were  turned  on  rather  short  pasture  without 
grain,  excepting  a  small  amount  of  green  corn  cut  daily  from  the  field. 
They  remained  out  on  pasture  until  October  18  when  they  were  taken 
up  and  put  into  the  barn  preparatory  to  beginning  the  experiment. 

It  was  not  the  intention  to  have  the  horses  gain  much  while  on 
pasture,  but  simply  hold  their  own.  The  real  purpose  in  putting  the 
horses  on  pasture  was  not  to  secure  gains  but  to  tone  up  their  systems 
and  give  all  an  equal  chance  when  started  on  feed.  It  was  thought 
that  the  above  method  would  do  it,  but  for  some  unaccountable  reason 
they  did  not  seem  to  thrive  well  for  a  month  or  more  after  being  put 
into  the  barn.  The  writer  thinks  the  trouble  was  in  the  pasture,  for  on 
the  same  farm  similar  difficulties  have  been  experienced  with  brood- 
mares and  colts  during  the  late  summer  and  autumn  months.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  greater  gains  would  have  been  secured  had  they  never  been 
turned  onto  pasture. 

PRELIMINARY  FEEDING 

The  preliminary  feeding  extended  over  a  period  of  six  days,  the 
time  considered  necessary  to  accustom  the  horses  to  their  new  environ- 
ment and  get  things  adjusted  for  beginning  the  experiment  proper. 
During  this  time  they  all  received  a  ration  of  corn  and  clover  hay,  be- 
ginning with  12  pounds  of  grain  and  16  pounds  of  hay  daily,  and  grad- 
ually increasing  the  hay  to  24  pounds  daily. 

METHODS  OF  FEEDING  AND  RATIONS  FED 

As  in  the  previous  experiment,  the  grain  fed  was  divided  into 
three  feeds  daily  and  given  at  6  a.m.,  11:30  a.m.,  and  5  p.m.  The 
horses  were  not  given  a  maximum  grain  ration  until  six  weeks  after 
the  beginning  of  the  experiment,  the  time  being  somewhat  longer  than 
in  the  previous  test.  From  the  beginning  they  were  fed  all  the  hay 
they  would  eat  up  clean,  and  the  quantity  gradually  grew  less  as  the 
grain  was  increased.  The  hay  was  fed  twice  daily,  morning  and  even- 
ing and  usually  in  equal  amounts.  All  foreign  matter  such  as  corn 
stalks  and  waste  hay  (which  only  rarely  occurred),  was  collected, 
weighed  back,  and  deducted  from  the  amount  fed.  Where  a  mixed 
grain  ration  was  fed.  a  weighed  quantity  of  the  feed  was  prepared  in 
the  proper  proportions  and  placed  in  a  bin  from  which  the  feeding  was 
done,  and  likewise  a  quantity  of  corn  for  lot  1.  During  the  closing 
period  of  the  experiment,  a  small  quantity  of  oil  meal  was  fed  to  put 
the  hair  in  good  condition.  The  rations  fed  were  as  follows : 

Lot  1.  Corn,  oil  meal  (old  process),  clover  hay. 

Lot  2.  Corn  24,  oats  J4,  oil  meal  (old  process),  clover  hay. 

Lot  3.  Corn  l/2,  oats  y2,  oil  meal  (old  process),  clover  hay. 

Lot  4  Corn  ^,  bran  1A,  oil  meal  (old  process),  clover  hay. 


1909]  FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET  541 

QUALITY  AND  COST  OF  FEEDS 

The  quality  of  the  feeds  used  was  the  same  as  described  in  Ex- 
periment No.  1.  The  following  were  about  the  average  farm  prices  of 
the  feeds  during  the  time  when  the  experiment  was  conducted : 

Corn  at  43c  per  bu.  or $15.36  per  ton 

Oats  at  35c  per  bu.  or 21.88  per  ton 

Bran  at  $1.00  per  cwt.  or 20.00  per  ton 

Oil  meal  (O:  P.  pea  size)  at 27.00  per  ton 

Clover  hay  at 13.00  per  ton 

It  will  be  noted  that  clover  hay  was  excessively  high,  owing  to 
the  shortage  of  the  crop:  Other  prices  will  be  used  in  comparison  with 
the  above  in  order  to  show  the  results  when  the  prices  of  feeds  are 
varied.  . 

HEALTH  AND  THRIFT  OF  HORSES 

As  stated  earlier,  this  experiment  did  not  start  off  satisfactorily 
for  some  unaccountable  reason.  The  data  from  three  horses  in  the 
experiment  were  rejected  (No.  33,  lot  1,  No.  37,  lot  2,  and  No.  41,  lot 
4),  because  they  did  not  thrive,  and  their  gains  were  so  small  they 
were  considered  abnormal.  There  was  nothing  to  indicate  that  these 
horses  would  not  be  good  feeders  but  they  failed  to  respond  to  the 
feed  consumed.  As  it  happened,  lots  1,  3  and  4  each  contained  one 
of  these  unthrifty  horses,  while  in  lot  2  No.  36  died  two  and  one-half 
months  after  the  experiment  began.  A  post-mortem  examination 
failed  to  reveal  the  cause  of  the  trouble,  which  was  in  the  head  and 
rendered  breathing  so  difficult  that  a  trachea  tube  was  necessary  to 
keep  the  horse  alive  for  even  a  few  hours.  Up  to  this  time  No.  36 
had  been  making  more  than  average  gains.  The  death  of  this  horse 
and  the  rejection  of  three  others  left  five  horses  in  each  lot.  Horse 
No.  25  of  lot  1  had  a  few  attacks  of  colic  which  may  have  slightly 
prevented  his  making  larger  gains.  He  was  below  average  in  this 
respect,  but  the  feeding  of  a  heavy  ration  of  whole  corn  may  be  partly 
accountable  for  the  colic.  All  the  other  horses  remained  in  good 
health,  but  during  the  third  period  they  all  received  a  set  back  caused 
by  attempting  to  introduce  some  oil  meal  so  unpalatable  to  them  that 
they  would  not  consume  their  grain  when  the  oil  meal  was  added. 
The  following  tables  show  the  reduction  in  the  amount  of  feed  con- 
sumed at  this  time. 

S6  far  as  was  possible  to  observe,  the  horses  not  having  exercise 
remained  in  as  good  health  as  those  getting  the  daily  walk  of  2.8  miles. 

From  a  study  of  Table  8  it  will  be  seen  that  lot  1  ate  less  grain 
and  hay  than  the  other  lots,  while  lot  4  ate  slightly  less  hay  than  that 
consumed  by  lots  2  and  3.  The  table  also  shows  a  gradual  increase  in 
the  amount  of  grain  consumed  in  the  first  two  periods  and  a  falling 
off  in  all  lots  during  the  third  period.  This  reduction  is  due  to  an 
attempt  to  introduce  oil  meal  about  the  middle  of  the  third  period 
which  caused  all  the  horses  to  go  off  feed.  After  continued  efforts  to 
induce  the  horses  to  eat  it  in  small  quantities  mixed  with  the  regular 
grain  ration,  most  of  them  became  so  averse  to  it  that  they  would 
leave  their  grain  when  the  oil  meal  was  added.  Tt  is  not  known  why 


542 


BULLETIN    NO.    141 


[November, 


the  horses  disliked  it  unless  it  was  new  process  meal.  The  stock  of 
meal  was  new  and  not  repulsive  to  cattle,  nor  did  it  seem  objectionable 
to  taste  or  smell.  After  about  ten  days  some  new  oil  meal  was  pro- 
vided which  was  relished  by  the  horses  during  the  last  or  fourth 
period,  when  the  grain  was  again  materially  increased. 

The  table  shows  the  hay  consumed  was  largest  during  the  first 
period  from  which  time  it  was  gradually  reduced  up  to  the  last  or 
fourth  period  when  it  was  again  increased.  It  will  be  noted  that  the 
relative  amount  of  bran  was  also  reduced  in  lot  4  during  the  third 
and  fourth  periods.  This  was  necessary  owing  to  the  fact  that  all 
of  the  horses  of  this  lot  showed  signs  of  not  relishing  the  bran  before 
the  end  of  the  experiment,  while  some  of  them  tired  of  it  to  the 
extent  that  they  would  refuse  their  corn  when  it  was  mixed  with  the 
normal  amount  of  bran.  By  studying  Table  9,  which  gives  the  average 
daily  ration  per  thousand  pounds  live  weight,  it  will  be  seen  that  when 
the  different  lots  are  compared  on  this  basis  there  is  less  marked 
difference  in  the  quantity  of  feed  consumed  than  there  appears  to  be 
in  Table  8.  The  averages  for  all  periods  show  that  lot  3  used  slightly 
more  grain  and  hay  per  thousand  pounds  live  weight  than  the  other 
lots.  In  general,  it  will  be  seen  that  here,  as  in  the  previous  experi- 
ment, tho  not  so  marked,  the  total  amount  of  feed  consumed  per 
thousand  pounds  of  live  weight  decreased  as  the  experiment  pro- 
gressed. 

TABLE  8.     AVERAGE  DAILY  RATION  AND  TOTAL  FEED  PER  HORSE  (POUNDS). 


Lot 

No. 

Feeds 

Periods 

Average 
for  all 
periods 
112 
days 

Total  feed 
per  horse 
Oct.  24,  '06 
to 
Feb.  13,  '07 
112  days 

(1) 
Oct.  24 
to  Nov. 
21,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Nov.  21 
to    Dec. 
19,  '06 

28  days 

(3) 
Dec.  19 
to  Jan. 
16,  '07 
28  days 

(4) 
Jan.    16 
to  Feb. 
13,  '07 
28  days 

Lot  1 

(5  horses) 

Corn  

15.5 

20.1 

15.2 

17.5 
1.07 
17.2 
35.77 

17.07 
.27 
18.53 
35.87 

1911.6 
30. 
2075.2 
4016.8 

Oil  meal 

Clover  hay.  . 
Total  

22.3 
37.8 

18.9 
39.0 

is.  7 

30.9 

Lot  2 
(5  horses) 

Corn  

11.8 
3.9 

15.8 
5.3 

14.6 
4.9 

14.95 
5.0 
1.25 

14.29 
4.76 

1599.97 
533.3 
35. 
2162.3 
4330.57 

Oats  

Oil  meal 

Clover  hay.  . 
Total  

23.6 
39.3 

21.7 
42.8 

15.5 
35.0 

16.46 
37.66 

19.3 
38.35 

Lot  3 
(5  horses) 

Corn  

7.87 
7.87 

10.5 
10.5 

9.6 
9.6 

10.5 
10.5 
1.2 

9.62 
9.62 

1077.1 
1077.1 
33.5 
2194.1 
4381.8 

Oats  

Oil  meal 

Clover  hay.  . 
Total  

23.2 
38.94 

21.4 
42.4 

16.5 
35.7 

17.2 
39.4 

"19.59 

38.83 

Lot  4 

(5  horses) 

Corn.  . 

12.6 
3.1 

15.96 
4.0 

15.7 
3.4 

20.3 
2.0 
1   2 

16.14 
J3.14 

1807.7 
351.5 
34.8 
2080.8 
4274.8 

Bran     .    . 

Oil  meal.  .  .  . 

Clover  hay.  . 
Total.  . 

22.9 
38.6 

18.8 
38.76 

15.4 
34.5 

17.2 

40.7 

18.58 
37   86 

1909J  FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET 

TABLE  9.    DAILY  RATION  PER  1000  POUNDS  LIVE  WEIGHT 


543 


Lot 
No. 

Feeds 

Periods 

Average  for 
all  periods 
Oct.  24,  '06 
to 
Feb.  13,  '07 
112  days 

(1) 
Oct.  24  to 
Nov.  21,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Nov.  2  1  to 
Dec.  19,  '06 
28  days 

(3) 
Dec.  19  to 
Jan.  16,  '07 
28  days 

(4) 
Jan.  16  to 
Feb.  13,  '07 
28  days 

Lot  1 

Corn  
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  hay 
Total.  .  .  . 

10.54 

15.23 
25.77 

13.07 

9.5 

10.59 
.65 
10.44 
21.68 

10.98 

12.27 
25.34 

9.79 
19.29 

11.92 
23.08 

Lot  2 

Corn  
Oats 

7.79 
2.59 

15.56 
25.94 

9.93 
3.31 

8.89 
2.96 

8.79 
2.93 
.73 
9.69 
22.14 

8.92 
2.97 

Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  hay 
Total.  .  .  . 

13.63 
26.87 

9.45 
21.30 

12.05 
23.94 

Lot  3 

Corn  
Oats  

5.2 
5,2 

6.56 
6.56 

5.82 
5.82 

6.17 
6.17 
.69 
10.11 
23.14 

6.01 
6.01 

Oil  meal 

Clover  hay 
Total.  .  .  . 

15.33 
25.73 

13.38 
26.50 

10.00 
21.64 

12.24 
24.26 

Lot  4 

Corn  
Bran  

8.20 
2.05 

9.98 
2.49 

9.47 
2.08 

11.84 
1.15 
.72 
9.98 
23.69 

9.91 
1.93 

Oil  meal 

Clover  hay 
Total.  .  .  . 

14.93 
25.18 

11.77 
24.24 

9.32 
20.87 

11.41 
23.25 

TABLE  10.    AVERAGE  WEIGHT  AND  GAIN  PER  HORSE  BY  PERIODS,  AND  TOTAL  GAINS 


Lot 

No. 

Feeds 

Periods 

Total  gain 
Oct.  24, 
'06  to 
Feb.  13, 
'07 
112  days 

(1) 
Oct.    24 
to  Nov. 
21,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Nov.  21 
to    Dec. 
19,  '06 

28  days 

(3) 
Dec.   19 
to    Jan. 
16,  '07 
28  days 

(4) 
Jan.    16 
to    Feb. 
13,  '07 
28  days 

Lot 

1 

Corn  
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Wt.  at  beginning. 
'    end  

1436 
1499 
63 

2.25 

1499 
1576 
77 
2.75 

1576 
1629 
53 
1.89 

1629 
1674 
45 
1.61 

1436 
1674 
238 
2.12 

Pounds  gain  
Av.  daily  gain.  .  .  . 

Lot 
2 

Corn  (%). 
Oats  (y& 
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Wt.  at  beginning. 
'    end  

1468 
1563 
95 
3.39 

1563 
1620 
57 
2.04 

1620 
1664 
44 
1.57 

1664 
1734 
70 
2.50 

1468 
1734 
266 
2.38 

Pounds  gain  .    ... 

Av.  daily  gain.  .  .  . 

Lot 
3 

Corn  (^). 
Oats  (Y2) 
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Wt.  at  beginning. 
'    end  

1463 
1564 
101 
3.61 

1564 
1635 
71 
2.54 

1635 
1671 
36 
1.29 

1671 
1736 
65 
2.32 

1463 
1736 
273 
2.44 

Pounds  gain  

Av.  daily  gain.  .  .  . 

Lot 
4 

Corn  (%). 
Bran  (>/)  . 
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Wt.  at  beginning. 
'    end  

1502 
1569 
67 
2.39 

1569 
1630] 
61 
2.18 

1630 
1681 
51 
*   1.82 

1681 

1755 
74 
2.64 

1502 
1755 
254 
2.26 

Pounds  gain  

Av.  daily  ga:n.  .  .  . 

544 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


A  perusal  of  Table  10  shows  lot  one  to  be  slightly  lighter  than 
lots  2  and  3,  all  of  which  were  lighter  than  lot  4  at  the  beginning  of 
the  experiment.  It  did  not  seem  possible  to  get  the  lots  more  evenly 
divided  in  weight  without  unbalancing  the  quality,  which  was  wholly 
undesirable.  The  various  lots  seemed  equal  with  regard  to  the  amount 
of  flesh  that  each  might  take  on. 

The  horses  in  lot  3  made  an  average  gain  of  273  pounds,  which  is 
7  pounds  more  than  made  by  lot  2,  19  pounds  more  than  lot  4,  and 
35  pounds  more  than  made  by  lot  1.  It  will  also  be  noticed  that 
the  highest  average  daily  gain  is  2.44  pounds,  which  is  less  than  the 
best  in  Experiment  1,  and  not  altogether  satisfactory.  However,  the 
small  gains  may  be  accounted  for  in  several  ways :  The  horses  did  not 
start  off  feeding  well  from  the  first ;  later  they  were  off  feed  for  ten 
days  due  to  an  attempt  to  introduce  into  the  ration  oil  meal,  which 
they  would  not  eat,  and  it  will  be  noted  that  some  of  the  horses  in 
each  lot  were  exercised  daily  and  did  not  make  as  large  gains  as  those 
not  exercised.  (See  Table  13,  page  546.) 

From  these  results,  we  must  conclude  that  a  ration  of  corn  sup- 
plemented with  oats  and  fed  in  conjunction  with  clover  hay  is  superior 
to  an  all-corn  ration  for  producing  gains  tho  the  extent  of  gains  is 
little  influenced  when  the  quantity  of  oats  is  not  less  than  one-fourth 
and  not  more  than  one-half  of  the  grain  fed ;  and  also,  that  a  small 
quantity  of  bran  mixed  with  corn  and  fed  in  conjunction  with  clover 
hay  is  superior  to  an  all-corn  ration  for  producing  gains  tho  not  as 
good  as  a  mixed  ration  of  corn  and  oats. 

Lot  1  made  its  greatest  gain  during  the  second  period,  lots 
2  and  3  made  their  greatest  gain  during  the  first  period,  while  lot  4 
made  its  greatest  gain  during  the  fourth  periodJ  No.  48  in  lot  2  made 
an  average  daily  gain  of  3.24  pounds,  or  a  total  gain  of  363  pounds 
in  the  112  days,  which  was  larger  than  that  made  by  any  other  horse 
in  the  experiment. 

TABLF,  11.     POUNDS  OF  DRY  MATTER  PER  POUND  OF  GAIN 


Lot 
No. 

Periods 

Average 
Oct.  24,  '06 
to 
Feb:i3,  '07 

(1) 
Oct.  24  to 
Nov.  21/06 

(2) 
Nov.  21  to 
Dec.  19,  '06 

(3) 
:  Dec.  19  to 
!  Jan.  16,  '07 

(4) 
Jan.  16  to 
Feb.  13,  '07 

Lot  1  

14.53 
10.01 
9.33 
13.97 

12.32 
18.24 
14.51 
15.48 

14.19 
19.39 
24.22 
16.52 

19.38 
13.13 
14.81 
13.44 

14.66 
14.15 
13.95 
14.64 

Lot  2  . 

Lot  3  

Lot  4  

The  economic  use  made  of  the  feeds  is  brought  out  in  Table  11, 
which  shows  lot  3  to  have  required  the  least  dry  matter  to  make  a 
pound  of  gain;  lot  2  is  next  in  order,  then  lots  4  and  1,  which  are 
about  the  same.  This  helps  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  perhaps  the 
rations  of  lots  2  and  3  were  more  palatable  than  that  of  lots  1  and  4, 
and  with  the  result  that  a  larger  amount  of  feed  was  consumed  and 
larger  and  more  economical  gains  secured.  I  It  will  also  be  seen  that 
the  amount  of  dry  matter  per  pound  of  gain  is  higher  than  that  re- 
quired in  lots  1  and  2  in  Experiment  1. 


1909] 


FLESHING  HORSKS  FOR  MARKET 


545 


Table  12  gives  the  average  daily  dry  matter  and  digestible  nutri- 
ents per  thousand  pounds  live  weight,  which  shows  that  the  amount 
of  dry  matter  decreased  as  the  experiment  progressed  and  was  notice- 
ably less  during  the  third  and  fourth  periods. 

In  the  average  for  the  entire  experiment  lot  1  received  slightly 
less  dry  matter  than  lot  4,  and  noticeably  less  than  lot  2.  Lot  3  con- 
sumed the  largest  amount  of  dry  matter  per  thousand  pounds  live 
weight,  and  also  made  larger  gains  than  any  other  lot  in  the  experi- 
ment.1 The  relative  amount  of  gains  made  in  the  other  lots  is  in  the 
same  proportion  as  the  amount  of  dry  matter  consumed  per  thousand 
pounds  live  weight. 

Table  12  also  shows  that  lot  3,  which  made  the  largest  gains,  re- 
ceived the  largest  amount  of  digestible  protein  and  the  smallest  amount 
of  carbohydrate  of  all  the  lots,  while  lot  1,  which  received  the  smallest 
amount  of  digestible  protein  and  next  to  the  largest  amount  of 
digestible  carbohydrates  made  the  smallest  gains  of  all  the  lots.  In 
other  words,  this  indicates  that  a  ration  with  a  nutritive  ratio  of 
1  : 9.5  is  too  wide  for  best  results  in  fleshing  horses.  We  see  here, 
as  in  Experiment  1,  that  the  narrower  the  nutritive  ratio,  the  larger 
the  gains.  Lot  4,  however,  is  an  exception ;  as  will  be  seen  it  was 
fed  a  slightly  narrower  nutritive  ratio  than  lot  2  and  made  12  pounds 
less  gain.  This  difference  is  so  small  that  it  is  more  likely  to  be  due 
to  the  individuality  of  the  horses  than  to  the  ration  fed.  It  will  also 
be  seen  that  the  nutritive  ratio  gradually  widened  in  all  lots  until  the 

TABLE  12.     AVERAGE  DRY  MATTER  AND  DIGESTIBLE  NUTRIENTS  PER  1000  POUNDS 

LIVE  WEIGHT  PER  DAY 


Lot 

No. 

r 

Feeds 

Periods- 

Total 
Oct.  24, 
'06,  to 
Feb.  13, 
'07 
112  days 

(1)* 

Oct.  24 
to  Nov. 
21,  '06 
28  days 

(2) 
Nov.  21 
to  Dec. 
19,  '06 
28  days 

(3) 
Dec.  19 
to  Jan. 
16,  '07 
28  days 

(4) 
Jan.  16 
to  Feb. 
13,  '07 
28  days 

Lot 
1 

Corn  .... 
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Dry  matter 

22.16 
1.54 
12.77 
.79 

1:9.  s;; 

22.04 
1.55 
13.32 
.87 
1  :9  .  9 

16.76 
1.17 
10.02 
.65 
1:9.9 

18.87 
1.46 
11.19 
.76 
1:8.8 

19.96 
1.43 
11.83 
.77 
1:9.5 

Digest,  protein  .  . 
carbohyd  . 
eth.  extr  . 
Nut   ratio 

Lot 
2 

Corn  (%). 
Oats  (M) 
Oil  meal  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Dry  matter  

22.42 
1.58 
12.33 
.77 
1:8.9 

23.34 
1.68 
13.36 
.88 
1:9.1 

18.56 
1.36 
10.91 
.73 
1:8.3 

19.32 
1.57 
11.17 
.78 
1:8.3 

20.91 
1.55 
11.94 
.79 
1:8.9 

Digest,  protein   .  . 
carbohyd  . 
"         eth.  extr.  . 
Nut.  ratio  

Lot 
3 

Corn  (y2). 
Oats  (^) 
Oil  meal  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Dry  matter 

22.25 
1.61 
11.80 
.75 
1:8.3 

23.01 
1.71 
12.61 
.84 
1:8.4 

18.84 
1.42 
10.47 
.71 
1:8.5 

20.19 
1.67 
11.14 
.79 
17.7 

21.07 
1.60 
11.50 

.77 
1:8.2 

Digest,  protein  .   . 
carbohyd  . 
eth.  extr.  . 
Nut.  ratio  

Lot 

4 

Corn  (%). 
Bran  (%). 
Oil  meal.  . 
Clover  .  .  . 

Dry  matter  

21.76 
1.57 
11.96 
.73 
1:8.7 

21.08 
1.57 
12.12 
.78 
1:8.8 

18.18 
1.36 
10.67 
.69 
1:9 

20.68 
1.66 
12.34 
.85 
1:8.6 

20.42 
1.54 
11.68 
.76 
1:8.8 

Digest,  protein  .  . 
carbohyd  . 
eth.  extr.  . 
Nut.  ratio  

546 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


last  period,  where  it  is  perceptibly  narrower,  due  to  the  feeding  of 
oil  meal.  The  nutritive  ratio  gradually  widened  at  first  due  to  the  fact 
that  the  horses  ate  less  clover  hay  and  more  grain  as  the  experiment 
progressed.  The  small  amount  of  nutrients  fed  during  the  third 
period  is  due  to  the  horses  being  off  feed  for  about  ten  days  at  the 
time  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  poor  oil  meal. 

Table  10  shows  the  gains  made  in  lots  2,  3  and  4  to  be  less  during 
the  second  period  than  during  the  first  period,  and  still  less  during  the 
third  period  than  during  the  second  period.  During  the  last  or  fourth 
period  the  gains  are  increased  over  those  of  the  third  period.  This 
helps  to  emphasize  the  fact  again  that  as  the  experiment  progressed 
and  the  nutritive  ratio  became  wider,  the  gains  decreased  until  the 
last  period  when  oil  meal  was  introduced  making  a  narrower  nutritive 
ratio  when  they  again_ increased.  The  behavior  of  lot  1  was  abnormal 
in  this  respect,  the  reason  for  which  is  unaccountable. 

A  brief  review  of  the  results  obtained  in  this  experiment  seem 
to  justify  some  of  the  conclusions  reached  in  Experiment  1,  that  a 
ration  with  a  nutritive  ratio  of  1 : 8  is  more  satisfactory  for  producing 
gains  in  fleshing  horses  than  one  with  a  wider  nutritive  ratio. 

So  far  as  the  effect  on  the  market  condition  of  the  horses  was 
concerned,  there  was  no  visible  difference  between  the  rations.  The 
horses  in  lot  1,  receiving  corn  and  clover  hay,  did  not  have  as  keen 
an  appetite  during  the  latter  part  of  the  experiment  as  those  of  lots 
2  and  3,  which  received  corn,  oats  and  clover  hay.  The  horses  in 
lot  4,  receiving  corn,  bran  and  clover  hay,  ate  nearly  as  much  as  those 
of  lots  2  and  3,  but  during  the  last  six  weeks  of  the  experiment  it 
was  easy  to  see  that  they  were  becoming  tired  of  the  bran,  and  conse- 
quently the  proportion  had  to  be  reduced  from  y$  to  whatever  amount 
they  would  consume,  which  with  some  of  the  horses  was  almost 
nothing,  while  others  would  take  -f  the  entire  amount  of  grain  fed. 

EFFECT  OF  EXERCISE 

The  effect  of  exercise  upon  the  taking  on  of  flesh  is  shown  in  the 
following  table : 

TABLE  13.    EXERCISE  vs.  No  EXERCISE 


Kind 

Number 

Weight, 

Weight, 

Av.  gain 

Average 

of 

of 

Lb.,  Oct. 

Lb.,  Jan. 

Lb., 

daily  gain, 

treatment 

horses 

24,  '06 

16,  '07 

84  days 

Lb. 

Exercise  

7 

1507 

1675 

168 

2 

No  exercise  .  . 

13 

1446" 

1655 

209 

2.49 

The  horses  getting  exercise  were  walked  2.8  miles  daily  for  a 
period  of  84  days  from  the  first  of  the  experiment.  Eight  horses  were 
gi<-en  this  exercise  daily,  but  only  seven  are  included  in  the  average 
as  one  horse  was  rejected  as  being  abnormal  in  that  he  made  a  very 
slight  gain.  There  were  sixteen  horses  which  did  not  get  exercise, 
two  of  which  were  rejected  owing  to  the  fact  that  they  did  not  thrive, 
and  another  one  died,  leaving  only  13  horses  from  which  the  average 
has  been  computed.  As  much  care  as  possible  was  used  in  making 
the  selection  of  horses  with  which  to  test  the  effect  of  exercise.  Half 
of  them  were  stabled  in  box  stalls  and  the  other  half  in  single  stalls 


1909] 


FLESHING  HORSKS  FOR  MAKKKT 


547 


and  tied  up.  Two  horses  from  each  lot  were  selected  for  exercise, 
one  from  a  box  stall  and  another  from  a  single  stall.  This  left  twice 
as  many  to  remain  in  the  barn  without  exercise.  Because  the  roads 
were  bad  from  being  very  muddy  or  frozen  and  very  rough,  the  exer- 
cise was  discontinued  at  the  end  of  the  third  period. 

In  Table  13,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  horses  getting  exercise  made 
41  pounds  less  gain  per  head  or  an  average  of  nearly  ^  pound  less 
per  day  than  those  not  getting  exercise.  So  far  as  could  be  observed, 
the  horses  not  having  exercise  remained  in  as  good  health  and  retained 
their  appetite  as  well  as  those  given  exercise.  It  was  not  possible  to 
follow  these  horses  up  after  they  were  marketed  in  order  to  see  what 
the  ultimate  results  would  be,  as  many  of  them  were  purchased  by 
dealers  on  the  market  and  taken  to  different  parts  of  the  country. 

EFFECT  OF  Box  STALL 

As  stated  above,  one-half  of  the  horses  were  stabled  loose  in  box 
stalls,  while  the  other  half  were  tied  in  single  stalls  where  no  exercise 
could  be  taken. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  this  test : 

TABLE  14.     SINGLE  STALL  vs.  Box  STALL 


Kind 
of 
stall 

Number 
of 
horses 

Weight, 
Lb.,  Oct. 
24,  '06 

Weight, 
Lb.,  Jan. 
16,  '07 

Av.  gain, 
Lb., 
84  days 

Daily 
gain, 
Lb. 

Single  stall            .  .  . 

10 

1454 

1656 

202 

2.4 

Box  stall  

10 

1481 

1667 

186 

2.2 

From  the  above  table,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  horses  tied  up  in 
the  single  stalls  made  better  gains  by  .2  pound  per  day  than  those 
having  the  freedom  of  box  stalls.  This  illustrates  again  the  detri- 
mental effect  of  exercise  upon  the  taking  on  of  flesh.  It  has  been 
claimed  by  some  men  that  the  box  stall  offers  an  advantage  in  helping 
to  prevent  bog  spavins  and  thoroughpins.  The  writer  could  detect  no 
difference  in  favor  of  the  box  stall  in  this  regard.  It  does  help,  how- 
ever, to  prevent  accidents,  as  horses  are  not  so  likely  to  become  injured 
from  being  kicked  by  adjoining  stall  companions.  The  box  stall  has 
the  disadvantage  of  being  more  expensive  in  its  initial  cost  and  re- 
quires more  room  so  that  fewer  horses  can  be  accommodated,  which  is 
often  an  important  item.  The  labor  involved  in  caring  for  the  horses 
is  also  greater  where  the  box  stall  is  used. 

Table  15  gives  individual  gains,  and  shows  that  the  horses  in 
single  stalls  made  greater  gains  in  84  days  than  those  in  box  stalls,  in 
both  instances,  where  they  received  exercise  and  with  no  exercise. 
The  evidence  shown  here  in  favor  of  the  single  stall  where  the  horses 
received  exercise  is  not  sufficient  to  be  conclusive,  as  too  few  horses 
were  involved,  but  it  does  seem  to  corroborate  the  results  obtained 
with  a  larger  number  of  animals  including  the  horses  receiving  no 
exercise.  It  would  seem  safe  to  conclude  that  there  is  nothing  to  be 
gained  by  the  use  of  the  box  stall  so  far  as  it  may  influence  the  horse 
in  taking  on  flesh. 

The  valuation  of  the  individual  horses  at  the  beginning  and  end 
of  the  experiment  as  assigned  by  the  appraising  committee,  based 


548  BULLKTIN  No.  141  [November 

TABLE  15.    INDIVIDUAL  GAINS  MADE  BY  HORSES  IN  84  DAYS   (POUNDS) 


Lot 

Exercise 

No  exercise 

No. 

Horse 

No. 

Single 
stall 

Box 

stall 

Horse 

No. 

Single 
stall 

Box 

stall 

Lot  1 

30 

116 

22 

25 
27 
32 

280 
224 

225 

120 

Lot  2 

28 
46 

189 

183 

24 
43 
48 

130 

211 
270 

Lot  3 

38 
23 

188 

133 

' 

35 
42 
49 

254 
213 

253 

Lot  4 

31 

39 

172 

193 

34 

44 
47 

177 
198 

159 

Total  .  . 

549 

625 

1476 

1238 

Average 

183 

156 

211 

206 

TABLE  16.    APPRAISED  VALUATION  OF  HORSES 


Lot 
No. 

Feeds 

No.   of 
horse 

First 
valua- 
tion 

Last 
valua- 
tion 

Increas'd 
valua- 
tion 

Lb.  in- 
crease in 
weight 

Value  per 
Ib.  of  in- 
creased wt. 

Lot 
1 

Corn  

22 

25 
27 
30 
32 

$235.00 
210.00 
215.00 
215.00 
185.00 

$275.00 
210.00 
300.00 
275.00 
220.00 

$40  .  00 

85^00 
60.00 
35.00 

Oil  meal.  .  .  . 
Clover 

Av  .  .  .!    212.00 

256.00 

44.00 

238 

18.  5c 

Lot 
2 

Corn  (%}  .. 
Oats  (M).- 
Oil  meal  .  .  . 
Clover  

24 
28 
43 
46 
48 

235.00 
200.00 
235.00 
225.00 
200.00 

290.00 
255.00 
250.00 
275.00 
280.00 

55.00 
55.00 
15.00 
50.00 
80.00 

Av  .  .. 

219.00 

270.00         51.00 

266 

19.  2c 

Lot 
3 

Corn  (yz)  .. 
Oats  (H)  .- 
Oil  meal.  .  .  . 
Clover  . 

23 

35 
38 
42 
49 

240.00 
210.00 
185.00 
235.00 
215.00 

235.00         -5.00 
255.00         45.00 
235.00         50.00 
310.00         75.00 
260.00         45.00 

Av.  .. 

217.00 

259.00         42.00' 
j  

273 

15.  4c 

Lot 
4 

Corn  (4/5)  . 
Bran  (1/5)  . 
Oil  meal.  .  .  . 
Clover  

31 

34 
39 
44 
47 

225.00 
225.00 
225.00 
225.00 
185.00 

265.00 
270.00 
265.00 
275.00 
250.00. 

40.00 
45.00 
40.00 
50  .  00 
65.00 

Av.  .. 

217.00 

265.00 

48.00 

254 

18.  9c 

Grand 

total 

4325.00 

5250.00       925.00 

1031 

Average  20  horses  

216.25 

262.50 

46.25 

257.7 

18c 

1909J  FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET  549 

upon  a  stationary  market  is  given  in  Table  16.  The  table  also  shows 
the  average  increased  valuation  per  horse  for  the  different  lots,  and 
the  average  for  all  the  lotsJ  It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  table  that 
the  horses  of  lot  2  increased  in  valuation  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  the  experiment  an  average  of  $51.00,  which  is  $3.00  more 
than  the  horses  of  lot  4,  $7.00  more  than  lot  1,  and  $9.00  more  than 
lot  3,  the  lot  which  made  the  largest  gains.  The  table  also  shows  the 
increased  flesh  was  worth  18.5c  per  pound  in  lot  1,  19.2c  in  lot  2, 
15.4c  in  lot  3  and  18.9c  in  lot  4. 

Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  assigning  accurate  values  to  horses,  it 
must  be  understood  that  it  is  a  very  easy  matter  to  rate  some  horses 
a  little  too  high  and  others  a  little  too  low.  Because  of  this  fact  and 
the  small  number  involved  in  each  lot,  it  is  not  safe  to  attach  great 
weight  to  the  figures  giving  the  value  of  flesh  in  the  different  lots,  but 
the  average  of  all  horses  in  the  experiment  is  a  much  safer  basis  from 
which  to  make  computations.  It  will  then  be  seen  that  an  average  of 
the  twenty  horses  increased  $46.25  each,  or  at  the  rate  of  18c  per 
pound  for  each  pound  of  flesh  taken  on. 

It  will  also  be  noticed  that  the  horses  in  lot  1  were  appraised 
$5.00  lower  per  head  at  the  beginning  of  the  experiment  than  the 
horses  of  lots  3  and  4,  and  $7.00  lower  than  the  horses  of  lot  2.  The 
horses  of  lot  1  were  somewhat  smaller  at  the  beginning  of  the  experi- 
ment than  those  of  the  other  lots,  which  in  a  measure  may  account 
for  their  being  rated  at  a  lower  value.  So  far  as  the  efficiency  of  the 
rations  in  producing  finish  are  concerned,  there  was  but  little  differ- 
ence in  any  of  the  lots.  If  there  was  any  difference,  it  was  in  favor 
of  lots  2,  3  and  4  over  that  fed  lot  1  (corn  and  clover  hay). 

ITEMIZED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  No.  1 
(Profit  per  horse  based  on  pounds  of  gain) 

Expenditures  LOT  1 

To  1911.6  Ib.  corn  at  43c $14.68 

"   30  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 40 

"    2075.2  Ib.  clover  at  $13.00. 13.49 


Total  cost  of  feed    $28.57 
Receipts 
By  238  Ib.  gain  at  18c $42.84 


Profit  per  horse $14.27 


Cost  per  pound  gain     12 cents 
Expenditures  LOT  2 

To  1600  Ib.  corn  at  43c $12.29 

"   533.3  Ib.  oats  at  35c 5.83 

"   35  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 47 

"    2162.3  Ib.  clover  at  $13.00 14.05 


Total  cost  of  feed    $32.64 
Receipts 
By  266  Ib.  gain  at  18c :.. $47.88 


Profit  per  horse $15.24 


Cost  per  pound  gain  12.3  cents 


550  BULLETIN  No.  141  [November. 

LOT  3 

Expenditures 

To  1077.1  Ib.  corn  at  43c $8.27 

"    1077.1  Ib.  oats  at  35c 11-78 

"   33.5  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 45 

"    2194.1  Ib.  clover  at  $13.00 14.26 

Total  cost  of  feed    $34.76 
Receipts 
By  273  Ib.  gain  at  18c $49.14 

Profit  per  horse $14.38 


Cost  per  pound  gain  12.7  cents 

LOT  4 

Expenditures 

To  1807.7  Ib.  corn  at  43c $13.88 

"  351.5  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 3.52 

"  34.8  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 47 

•  "   2080.8  Ib.  clover  at  $13.00 13.53 


Total  cost  of  feed    $31.40 
Receipts 
By  254  Ib.  gain  at  18c $45.72 


Profit  per  horse $14.32 


Cost  per  pound  gain  12.4  cents 

• 

The  cost  of  feeding  the  horses  as  given  in  financial  statement 
No.  1,  is  based  upon  commercial  prices  of  feeds  at  the  time  the  experi- 
ment was  conducted.  No  charge  is  made  for  labor  in  caring  for  the 
horses  nor  for  bedding,  neither  is  any  value  assigned  to  the  manure 
made  by  the  horses.  It  has  been  assumed  that  the  value  of  the 
manure  would  be  enough  to  offset  the  cost  of  the  labor  involved  and 
the  bedding  used.  From  this  table  it  will  be  seen  that  lot  2  returned 
slightly  the  largest  profit,  tho  there  is  only  97  cents  difference  per  horse 
between  lot  2  and  lot  1,  which  returned  the  smallest  profit.  The  cost 
of  feeding  lot  3  was  $6.19  more  per  horse  than  that  of  lot  1,  which  is 
due  to  the  use  of  oats  in  the  ration  of  lot  3.  While  the  ration  of  lot  3 
cost  more  than  that  of  any  other  lot,  it  also  made  larger  gains,  but 
the  gains  were  not  sufficiently  large  to  justify  the  high  cost  of  the 
ration.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  gains  of  lot  1  cost  12c  per  Ib.,  while 
that  of  lot  2,  12.3c,  that  of  lot  3,  12.7c,  and  lot  4,  12.4c.  Stated  in 
another  way  and  with  the  above  conditions,  85  cents  per  bushel  was 
realized  for  the  corn  fed  lot  1 ;  88  cents  for  the  corn,  and  50  cents  for 
the  oats  fed  lot  2;  89  cents  for  the  corn,  and  51  cents  for  the  oats  fed 
lot  3,  and  88  cents  for  the  corn  fed  lot  4.  I 

With  varying  prices  of  feeds  Table  17  gives  a  summarized  state- 
ment of  the  net  profit  per  horse  and  cost  per  pound  of  gain.  With 
moderate  priced  feeds  (corn  at  40c,  oats  at  32c.  bran  at  $20.00  per  ton, 
oil  meal  at  $27.00  per  ton  and  clover  hay  at  $8.00  per  ton)  it  shows 
that  lot  2  would  return  the  greatest  profit  netting  $22.01,  which  is 
$1.52  more  than  that  of  lot  1.  While  lot  1  would  net  the  smallest 
profit  it  would  make  gains  at  a  cost  of  9.4c  per  pound,  which  is  cheaper 


1909) 


FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET 


551 


than  that  of  any  other  lot.  As  the  prices  of  feeds  advance  the  cost 
per  pound  of  gain  also  increases,  but  even  with  very  high  priced  feeds 
the  cost  per  pound  of  gain  would  be  less  and  the  profits  greater  with 
lot  1  than  that  of  any  other  lot. 


TABLE  17. 


NET  PROFIT  PER  HORSE  AND  COST  PER  POUND  OF  GAIN  WITH  VARYING 
PRICES  OF  FEEDS 


Feeds  used  and  at  varying 
prices 

With 
increase 
gain  at  18c 
per  Ib. 

Lot  1 

Lot  2 

Lot  3 

Lot  4 

Corn 
Oil  meal 
Clover 
hay 

Corn(^) 
Oats  (M) 
Oil  meal 
Clover  hay 

Corn  (Y2) 
Oats  (1/0 
Oil  meal 
Clover  hay 

Corn  (4/5) 
Bran  (1/5) 
Oil  meal 
Cloverj^hay 

Corn  at  43  c,  oats  at  35c, 
bran  at  $20.00  per  ton, 
oil  meal  at  $27.00  per 
ton,  clover  hay  at  $13.00 
per  ton  

Net  profit. 

$14.27 

$15.24 

$14.38 

$14.32 

Cost  per  Ib. 
of  gain  .  . 

12c 

12.  3c 

12.  7c 

12.  4c 

Corn  at  40c,  oats  32c,  bran 
$20.00  per  ton,  oil  meal 
$27.00  per  ton,  clover 
hay  $8.00  per  ton  

Net  profit. 

$20.49 

$22.01 

$21.45 

$20.50 

Cost  per  Ib. 
of  gain  .  . 

f9.4c 

9.7c 

10.  Ic 

9.9c 

Corn  at  50c,  oats  45c,  bran 
$24.00  per  ton.  oil  meal 
$30.00  per  ton,  clover 
hay  $8.00  per  ton  

Net  profit 

$17.02 

$16.93 

$15.10 

$16.24 

Cost  per  Ib. 
of  gain  . 

10.  8c 

11.  6c 

12.  5c 

11.  6c 

Corn  at  60c,  oats  at  50c, 
bran  at  $25.00  per  ton, 
oil  meal  at  $32.00  per 
ton,  clover  hay  at  $10.00 
per  ton  

Net  profit. 

$11.51 

$11.04 

$  9.26 

$11.01 

Cost  per  Ib. 
of  gain  .  . 

13.  2c 

13.  8c 

14.  6c 

13.  7c 

Corn  at  70c,  oats  at  60c, 
bran  at  $26.00  per  ton, 
oil  meal  at  $34.00  per 
ton,  clover  hay  at  $12.00 
per  ton  

Net  profit. 

$  5.99 

$  4.32 

$  1.75 

$   5.48 

Cost  per  Ib. 
of  gain  .  . 

15.  5c 

16.  4c 

17.4c 

15.  8c 

Financial  statement  No.  2  shows  what  would  happen  with  mod- 
erate priced  feeds  and  the  flesh  produced  worth  25c  per  pound  as  in 
Experiment  No.  1.  From  the  statement,  it  will  be  seen  that  lot  3 
shows  the  greatest  profit  per  horse  by  $3.60  more  than  lot  1,  12  cents 
more  than  lot  2,  and  $2.47  more  than  lot  4.  The  cheapest  gains  would 
be  made  in  lot  1  at  9.4c  per  pound,  and  the  most  expensive  in  lot  3  at 
a  cost  of  10. Ic  per  pound.  The  greater  profit  in  lots  2  and  3  is  due  to 
the  greater  gains  made  being  worth  25c  per  pound,  while  the  cost  of 
production  in  all  the  lots  is  very  nearly  the  same.  Where  such  is  the 
case,  the  farmer  would  receive  $1.50  per  bushel  for  his  corn,  and  86c 
per  bushel  for  his  oats,  and  at  the  same  time  help  maintain  the  fertility 
of  his  soil  by  the  manure  produced. 


552  BULLETIN  No.  141  [November, 

ITEMIZED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  No.  2 

(Profit  per  horse  based  on  pounds  of  gain) 

LOT  1 
Expenditures 

To  1911.6  Ib.  corn  at  40c $13.65 

"   30  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 .40 

"   2075.2  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 8.30 


Total  cost  of  feed    $22.35 
Receipts 
By  238  Ib.  gain  at  25c * $59.50 

Profit  per  horse $37.15 


Cost  per  pound  gain     9.4  cents 

LOT  2 
Expenditures 

To  1600  Ib.  corn  at  40c $11.42 

"   533.3  *lb.  oats  at  32c 5.33 

"   35  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 47 

"    2162.3  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 8.65 


Total  cost  of  feed     $25.87 
Receipts 
By  266  Ib  gain   at   25c $66.50 


Profit  per  horse $40.63 


Cost  per  pound  gain     9.7  cents 

LOT  3 
Expenditures 

To  1077.1   Ib.  corn  at  40c $  7.69 

"    1077.10  Ib.  oats  at  32c 10.77 

"   33.5  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 45 

"   2194.1  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 8.78 


Total  cost  of  feed    $27.69 
Receipts 
By  273  Ib.  gain  at  25c $68.44 


.$40.75 


Cost  per  pound  gain  10.1  cents 

LOT  4 
Expenditures 

To  1807.7  Ib.  corn  at  40c $12.91 

"   351.5  Ib.  bran  at  $20.00 3.52 

"   34.8  Ib.  oil  meal  at  $27.00 47 

"   2080.8  Ib.  clover  hay  at  $8.00 8.32 


Total  cost  of  feed    $25.22 
Receipts 
By  254  Ib.  gain  at  25c $63.50 


Profit  per  horse. 


Cost  per  pound  gain     9.9  cents 


1909]  FLESHING  HOKSKS  FOR  MARKKT  553 


CONCLUSIONS 

1.  A  mixed  grain  ration  of  corn  and  oats,  when  fed  with  clover 
hay,  is  more  efficient  than  a  single  grain  ration  of  corn  for  producing 
large  gains  in  an  eighty-four  day  feeding  period. 

2.  While  a  ration  of  corn,  oats,  and  clover  hay  is  more  expen- 
sive with  prices  of  feeds  as  stated,  than  one  of  corn  and  clover  hay, 
the  gains  are  such  as  to  make  its  use  more  economical. 

3.  Clover  hay  when  fed  with  a  mixed  grain  ration  of  corn  and 
oats  is  more  efficient  for  producing  gains  than  timothy  hay.     In  this 
test  clover  hay  produced  58  percent  more  gains  than  timothy. 

4.  A  ration  of  corn,  oats  and   timothy   is   not   satisfactory   for 
producing  finish  in  fleshing  horses  for  market,  but  may  be  materially 
improved  by  the  addition  of  oil  meal. 

5.  Experiment  No.  2  showed  but  little  difference  in  the  efficiency 
of  a  ration  of  corn  and  oats  where  the  oats  fed  equalled  only  one- 
fourth  the  amount  of  corn  and  where  the  oats  and  corn  were  fed  in 
equal  quantities  by  weight,  with  clover  hay  as  roughage  in  each  ration. 

6.  A  ration  of  one-fourth  oats  and  three-fourths  corn  proved 
more  economical  than  one  of  half  oats  and  "half  corn. 

7.  A  ration  of  corn  and  bran  fed  in  proportions  of  one  part  bran 
to  four  parts  corn  by  weight  is  superior  to  an  all-corn  ration  for  pro- 
ducing gains  when  fed  in  conjunction  with  clover  hay. 

8.  This  test  seemed  to  indicate  that  there  is  danger  of  feeding 
too  much  bran  for  best  results  when  clover  hay  furnishes  the  rough- 
age part  of  the  ration.    The  bran  and  clover  combined  produced  a  too 
laxative  condition. 

9.  A  ration  with  a  nutritive  ratio  of  1 :  10  is  too  wide  for  best 
results  in  fleshing  horses.     In  these  tests  the  narrower  the  nutritive 
ratio  the  larger  the  gains.     Best  results  were  secured  with  a  nutritive 
ratio  of  1:8. 

10.  Exercise  has  a  retarding  effect  upon  the  taking  on  of  flesh. 
In  this  test  the  horses  receiving  no  exercise  made  24  percent  more 
gains  than  those  having  a  daily  walk  of  2.8  miles. 

11.  While  box   stalls  are  safer  than   single  stalls   for   stabling 
horses,  they  are  also  more  expensive  and  do  not  offer  merits  not  pos- 
sessed by  single  stalls  so  far  as  they  may  influence  the  horse  in  taking 
on  flesh.     The  horses  stabled  in  single  stalls  made   16  pounds  or  8 
percent  more  gains  in  84  days  than  those  in  box  stalls. 

12.  Thin  horses  of  some  market  classes  will  not  return  as  large 
a  profit  in  feeding  as  those  of  other  classes.    The  kind  of  horses  it  will 
pay  best  to  feed  depends  partially  upon  the  season  of  the  year  when 
marketed.     All   heavy  horses  will  pay  better  than  light  horses,  and 
good  and  choice  animals  better  than  those  of  the  lower  grades. 


554 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


PLATE  1.     No.  6.     BEFORE  FEEDING.     EXPERIMENT  1,  LOT  1. 


PLATE  2.     \To.  6      AFTER  FRKDING.     EXPERIMENT  1,  LOT  1 


1909] 


Fl.KSHING    HORSHS    FOR    MARKKT 


555 


PLATE  3.     No.  11.     BEFORE  FEEDING.     EXPERIMENT  1,  LOT  \ 


PI.ATF  4      No.  11      AFTER  FF.F.ruNr,      EXPERIMENT  1,  LOT  2. 


556 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


1909] 


FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKKT 


557 


558 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


1909] 


FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET 


559 


560 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


1909] 


FLESHING  HORSES  FOR  MARKET 


561 


562 


BULLETIN  No.  141 


[November, 


1909.] 


AUTHOB  INDEX 

AUTHOR  INDEX 


579 


PAGE 

Burrill,  T.  J.,  and  Barrett 
J.  T. ,  Ear  rots  of  corn,  Bull. 
133 63-110 

Crandall,  C.  S.,  Bordeaux  mix- 
ture, Bull.  135 199-296 

Folsom,  J.  W.,  The  insect  pests 
of  clover  and  alfalfa,  Bull. 
134 131-198 

Forbes,  S.  A.,  Experiments  with 
repellents  against  the  corn 
root-aphis,  1905  and  1906, 
Bull.  130 1-28 

Forbes,  S.  A.,  Habits  and  be- 
havior of  the  corn-field  ant, 
Lasius  niger  americanus, 
Bull.  131 2946 

Fraser,  W.  J.  and  Brand  R.  E., 
Dairy  suggestions  from  Eu- 
ropean conditions  as  seen 
in  the  British  Isles,  Hol- 
land and  Denmark,  Bull. 
140 459-522 

Hume,  A.  N.,  Center,  O.  D. 
and  Hegnauer,  Leonard 
Methods  of  seeding  oats, 
drilling  and  broadcasting, 
Bull.  136..  ...297-312 


PAGE 

Lee,  C.  E.,  Pasteurization  as  a 
factor  in  making  butter 
from  cream  skimmed  on  the 
farm,  Bull.  138 369-438 

Lee,  C.  E.,  and  Barnhart,  J.  M., 
Composition  of  market  but- 
ter, Bull  139 439-458 

Lee,  C.  E.,  Hepburn.  N.  W., 
and  Barnhart,  J.  M.,  A 
study  of  factors  influenc- 
ing the  composition  of  but- 
ter, Bull.  137 313-368 

Mumford,  H.  W.,  and  Allison, 
H.  O.,  Short  fed  steers,  A 
comparison  of  methods  of 
of  feeding.  Bull.  142 563-578 

Obrecht,  E.  C.,  Relative  effici- 
ency of  different  rations 
for  fleshing  horses  for 
market,  Bull.  141 523-562 

Smith,  L.  H..  The  effect  of  se- 
lection upon  certain  physi- 
cal characters  of  the  corn 
plant,  Bull.  132 ...47-62 


580 


INDEX 

INDEX 


[November, 


(2'/ie  headings  in  capitals  are  the  subjects  of  entire  bulletins) 


PAGE 

Agricultural  shows  481-4 

Alcohol,    Treatment     of  seed 

corn  with 11,15 

Allograpta  obliqua — ...  14T-8 

Aphidius 151-2 

Bacteria  on  corn.  91-2 

Bordeaux-  arsenate  of  lead  com- 
bination, further  trial  of 

280-2 

BORDEAUX  MIXTURE..  199-296' 

Adhesiveness 217-9 

Changes  occurring  in 248-9 

Chemistry  of 215-7 

Conclusions 292-6 

Copper,  solution  of,  in 223-8 

Discovery  of 205-7 

Experiments,    reports     on 

253-73 

Formulas 207-10 

Fungicidal  action  of 233-4 

In  glass  dishes 250-1 

Injuries  to  foliage 220 

Introduction   of,     in    the 

United  States 208-10 

Making 211-5 

Materials  for 210-17,288-90 

On  foliage  of  apple  trees  in 

pots 25-1-2 

Problem  of  solubility  of  the 

copper  of 249-50 

British  Isles,  Dairying  in... 462-80 

England  462-8 

Ireland  469-71 

Scotland 472-80 

Bruchophagus  funebris 125-33 

BUTTER,  A  STUDY  OF  FAC- 
TORS INFLUENCING 
THE  COMPOSITION  OF 

(with  tables) 313-68 

BUTTER,  COMPOSITION 
OF  MARKET  (with 

tables)  439-58 

Illinois 443,450-1 


PAGE 

Iowa 444-5,451-2 

Minnesota 445-7 ,452 

Wisconsin ...447-9,452 

Butter,  Composition  of 

Changes  in,  made  by  each 

revolution  in  working 320-2 

From   cream,    pasteurized 

and  un  pasteurized 324-9 

Half-worked    and  .worked 

....319-20 

Influenced  by  time  cream 
is  held  at  churning  tem- 
perature   323-4 

Made     in     two     different 

churns 322-3 

Salting,  Influence  of  dry 
and  wet,  upon 331-2 

Butter  fat  churned  and  recover- 
ed in  the  butter. , 352-8 

Butter  in  Holland 501 

Butter  samples,  analysis  of,  ac- 
cording io  states 

Illinois 443 

Iowa 444-5 

Location  unknown 449 

Minnesota..  445-7 

Wisconsin 447-9 

Butter,  sampling 316-9,441 

Callipterus,    trifolii . , 175-8 

Description 175-6 

Life  history 177-8 

Carbolic    acid,    treatment    of 
seed  corn  with 11,15 

Carbon    bisulphid,    treatment 
of  seed  corn  with 13 

Carbonated    water,    action   of 
' 282-8 

Cheese  and  butter  in  Holland 
498-501 

Chlorid  of  lime,  treatment  of 
seed  corn  with 12 

Chrysopidae 145,  149-51 


1909.] 


INDEX 


581 


PAGE 

Clover 

Callipeterus 175-8 

Hay-worm 168-71 

Leaf-midge 171-5 

Leaf-weevil  114, 117,155-64 

Louse 117,138-54 

Root  borer 114,164-8 

Root  mealy-bug 189-95 

Seed-Caterpillar 114,133-7 

Seed-chalcid 114,125-33 

Seed-midge 114,118-25 

Sitones  flavescens . . 184-9 

Steam-borer 178-84 

Clover  seed  crop,  failure  of  the 

:    .115-7 

Coccinellae 145-6 

Copper,    accumulation    of,    in 

the  soil 219-20 

Fungicidal  action   of,   dis- 
covery of 204-5 

Not    absorbed  thru  trunk 

and  branches 237-8 

Penetration   of,   into    leaf 

tissues 228-33 

Solubility  of,  influence  of 
lime  in  excess  on  the — 275-7 
bordeaux     mixture      on 

leaves 249-50 

under  influence  of  long 
continued  moist  con- 
ditions  290-2 

Solution  of,  in  bordeaux 

mixture 223-8 

Sulphate 210,219-20 

Injection  of 240-2 

Solution    absorbed    hurt 

wounds 238-40 

Treatment  of  seed  corn 

with 13 

CORN,  EAR  ROTS  OF 63-110 

Bacteria 91-2 

Causes ..  70-2 

Diplodia  zeae  65,66,71, 

72,73-85 

Fusarium,  species  of ...65,66,72,85-91 
History  and  synonomy  ...94-6 

Injury,  amount  of 69-70 

Observations,  general.  . .  .65-9 
Plates  and  description  of.  .97-109 


PAGE 

Prevention 92-4 

Corn,  Injury  to,  by  ants 41-2 

Learning 51 

Plates '....54-5,59,62 

CORN  PLANT,  THE  EFFECT 
OF  SELECTION  UPON 
CERTAIN  PHYSICAL 
CHARACTERS  IN  THE 
(with  plates) 47-62 

CORN  ROOT-APHIS,  EX- 
PERIMENTS WITH  RE- 
PELLENTS AGAINST 

THE,  1905  AND  1906 1-28 

Agency  for  destruction  of  .3-4 
Corn-field   experiment,'  A, 

1906 15-23 

Destructive   ability  of  the..  .3 
Fields,   comparison   of  in- 
fested   23-4 

Minor  test 24.5 

Plot  experiments 5-15 

Prevention,     general    pro- 
gram of 26-8 

Repellent    applications    to 
the  seed 4-5 

Corn,  effect  of  selection  of,  on 

maturity 56 

yield 56-7 

CORN-FIELD  ANT,  LASIUS 
NIGER  AMERICANUS, 
HABITS  AND  BEHAV- 
IOR OF  THE 29-48 

Colony,   area    occupied  by 

a  single 37-8 

Beginning  of  a  new 32-4 

Size  of 34-5 

Effect  of  change  of  crop. .  .42-4 
Hostilities,  intercolonial .  .35-7 

Injury  to  corn  by 41-2 

Nests,     adapation    of,    to 

changing  conditions 40-1 

Behavior  within  the  38-40 

Contents  of 31-2 

Plate 45 

Relation   to   other  species.. 38 

Corn-field  experiment,  A,  1906 

15-25 

Description  of •  •  •  16-8 


582 


INDEX 


[November, 


PAGE 

Results  of 18-23 

Cow  stables,  Holland 493-6 

Cow  testing  association 514 

Dairy  cattle 

Denmark 510-1 

England 464 

Holland 489-91 

Ireland  469-70 

Scotland 474-6 

DAIRY  SUGGESTIONS  FROM 
EUROPEAN    CONDI- 
TIONS -AS  SEEN  IN  THE 
BRITISH     ISLES,    HOL- 
LAND AND   DENMARK 

459-522 

Dairying  in  the  British  Isles 

England  462-8 

Ireland 469-71 

Scotland 472-80 

Dairying  in  Denmark 503-20 

Dairying  in  Holland 485-502 

Dasyneura  leguminicola 118-25 

Dasyneura  trifolii 171-5 

Denmark 

City  milk  supply 515-6 

Cow  testing  association.  . .  .514 

Dairy  cattle 510-1 

Farm  buildings 507-9 

management 504-6 

Feed  and  care 511-4 

Manufactured  products. .  .516-8 
What  we  may  learn  from 

519-20 

Diplodia  zeae 73-85 

Effects  of  acid  and  alkalin 

media 78-80 

Growth  in  culture 76-8 

History 94-6 

Inoculation  experiments... 83-5 

Life  history  on  ears 73-4 

stalks 74-6 

Spores,  distribution  of,  by 

wind.  81-3 

Germination  of 80-1 

Ear  rots 

Appearance 65-6 

Causes . . .  .• 70-2 

Influence  of    locality,    soil 

etc 67 

Prevention 92-4 

Seasonal  occurrence. ... 66-7 


PAGE 

Ears,  (corn) 

Erect  and  declining 57-62 

High  and  low 51-7 

Enarmonia  interstinctana 133-7 

England 

City  milk  supply 466-8 

Farm  buildings 466 

management 462-4 

Feed  and  care  465-6 

Live  stock 464 

Manufactured 468 

Farm  buildings 

Denmark 507-9 

England 466 

Holland 493-6 

Scotland 477-8 

Farm  management 

Denmark 504-6 

England 462-4 

Holland  487-9 

Ireland 469-71 

Scotland 477 

Feed  and  care  of  dairy  cattle 

Denmark 511-4 

England 654-6 

Holland 491-2 

Ireland 469-71 

Scotland 477 

Feed  lots  and  equipment 566-8 

Feeds,  quality  and  cost  of 568 

Foliage,   condition  of,  of  trees 

sprayed  with  lime   277-80 

Injuries  to 220 

Foliage  injury,  The  relation  of 

meteoric  waters  to 242-92 

Formalin,  treatment  of  oats 311 

Formalin,    treatment  of  seed 

corn  with 11-15 

Formica  schaufussi .  .38 

Fungi 71-72-221 

Fungicides ...204 

Fusarium,  species  of  85-91 

•    Appearance  in  culture   on 

the  ears 86-7-89-91 

stalks 86 

Germination  of  spores  —  87-90 
Growth  in  various  media — 88 

Hay-worm,  clover 1 14-168-71 

Control 170-1 

Injury 168-9 

Life  history  and  habits..  169-70 
Stages 169 


1909.] 


INDEX 


583 


PAGE 

Hylastinus  obscurus 164-  8 

Holland — 

City  milk  supply 496-8 

Cheese  and  butter 498-501 

Cow  stab'es 493-6 

Dairy  cattle 489-91 

Farm  management ...... .487-9 

Feed  and  care 491-2 

Horses 

Box  stall,  Effect  of 547 

Exercise,  Effect  of 546-7 

Feeding,  methods  of.  ..528-9-540 

Preliminary  527-8-540 

Feeds,  Quality  and  cost  of 

- 529-541 

Health  and  thrift  of  529- 

34-541-60 

Kations,  Effect  of 534-8 

Fed  to 528-9-540 

Stabling 527-539 

Used  in  experiments.  .527-539-40 
Watering 527-539 

Hypsopygia  costalis 168-71 

INSECT  PESTS  OF  CLOVER 
AND  ALFALFA,  THE 
(with  plates)...  111-98 

Insects,     Control     of     clover 

117-8-123-132-3-137 

..153-4-164-^67-184-188 

Injury  to  clover  by   113-5- 
125-7-133-4 

Ireland 469-71 

Iron  sulphate,   Treatment    of 

seed  corn  with 13 

Kainit,  Treatment  of  seed  corn 

with 12 

Kerosene,  Treatment    of  seed 

corn  with 4-5-6-8-9-10-14 

Kerosene  emulsion,  Treatment 

of  seed  corn  with 5-6-7-8 

Languria  mozardi 178-89 

Lanius  alienus  americanus 3-29-49 

Leaf-midge 171-5 

Food  plants 171-2 

Habits..   173-5 

Life  history 173 

Stages 172-3 

Leaf-weevil 114,  117,  155-64 

Control 164 

Description 156-8 


PAGE 

Distribution 155 

Enemies,  natural 162-3 

Food  plants  and  injuries.  .155-6 

Habits 160-2 

Life  history 158.60 

Leaves,  burning  or  brown  spot- 
ting of 220-3 

Solubility  of  the  copper 
of  bordeaux  mixture  on 

...249-50 

Yellowing  of .  ...234-7,  240-2 
Lime,     air-slacked,     Bordeaux 

made  with 210-1,  288-90 

Chlorid    of,   treatment   of 

seed  corn  with 12 

Condition  of   foliage  trees 

sprayed  with .278-80 

Influence  of,  in   excess  on 
the  solubility  of  copper- 

275  7 

Maintaining  of  excess  of.  .273-5 
Lime,  sulphur  and  salt,  treat- 
ment of  seed  corn  with 12 

Lineellus 189 

Live  stock,  England 464 

London  purple , 203-4 

Louse,  clover 117, 138-54 

Control  153-4 

Description 141 

Enemies,  natural  144-52 

Food  plants  andinjuries.. 138-40 

Habits 143-4 

Life  history 144-5 

Lysol,   treatment  of  seed  corn 

with 11-2,  15 

Macrocheles  nicestus 40 

Macrosiphum  pisi 138-54 

Manufactured  products  of  the 
dairy 

Denmark 516-8 

England 468 

Holland 498-501 

Ireland 470 

Scotland 478-9 

Mealy-bug,  clover-root 189-95 

Habits ....194-5 

Life  history 193  4 

Stages 190-3 

Mesogramma  marginatum 148 

Mesogramma  politum 148 

Meteoric  waters 226,  228,  242-8 


584 


INDEX 


[November. 


PAGE 

Milk  supply,  city 

Denmark..  515-6 

England 466-8 

Holland 496-8 

Scotland 478 

Musk,  treatment  of  seed  corn 

with 13 

Mustard,    treatment    of    seed 

corn  with 13 

OATS,  METHODS  OF  SEED- 
ING,    DRILLING     AND 

BROADCASTING 297-312 

Conclusions 309-10 

Cost  ..   307 

Experiments  at  DeKalb.. 303-4 

Sibley -..305-6 

Urbana 301-2 

Results  from  other  sources 

307-8 

Oats,  treatment  of,  for  smut 

311-2 

Oil    of    lemon,    treatment    of 

seed  corn  with 10,14 

Oils,  other  vegetable 10-1 

Paris  green 203-4 

PASTEURIZATION     AS      A 
FACTOR   IN     MAKING 
BUTTER  FROM  CREAM 
SKIMMED       ON       THE 
"  FARM  (with  tables). . .  .367-438 
Pea-louse  (see  clover-louse) 

Perilitus  americanus  146-7 

Peronospora  viticola  204,205-6 

Petroleum,    crude,    treatment 

of  seed  corn  with 10,14 

Phytonomus  punctatus  ...    — 155-64 

Pseudococcus  trijolii 189-95 

RATIONS  FOR    FLESHING 
HORSES  FOR  MARKET, 
RELATIVE  EFFICIENCY 
OF    DIFFERENT     (with 

plates) 523-62 

Root-borer,  clover 114,164-8 

Control 167 

Distribution 165-6 

Life  history  and  habits. . .  166-7 

Stages 166 

Schizoneura  panicola 42,43 

Scotch    dairying,  high    points 

in 479-80 

Scotland 

City  milk  supply 478 


PAGE 

Dairy  cattle 474-6 

Farm  buildings 477-8 

management 472-4 

Feed  and  care 477 

Manufactured  products... 478-9 
Seed  crop,  the  failure  of   the 

115-7 

Seed,  repellent  application  to 

the 4-5 

Seed-caterpillar 114,133-7 

Control 137 

Distribution 133 

Enemies,  natural  137 

Food  plants  and  injuries.  .133-4 

Habits 136 

Life  history 135-6 

Stages 134-5 

Seed  chalcid  114,125-33 

Control 132-3 

Distribution  125 

Enemies,  natural .....   . .  .131-2 

Food  plants 125 

Habits 130-1 

Injury 125-7 

Life  history 127-30 

Seed  corn,   treated  with  alco- 
hol  11, 15 

Carbolic  acid 11,  15 

carbon  bisulphid 13 

chlbrid  of  lime 12 

copper  sulphate 13 

formalin 11,  15 

iron  sulphate 13 

kainit 12 

kerosene...  4,  5,6,  8,9-10,  14 
kerosene  emulsion  —  6-7,  8 
lime,  sulphur  and  salt — 12 

lysol 11-2,  15 

miscellaneous  substances 

...  13-4 

musk 13 

mustard 13 

oil  of  lemon 10,  14 

other  vegetable  oils..  .101,14 

petroleum 10,  14 

tar  water 7,  8 

tobacco  water 13 

turpentine 7,  8 

Seed-midge 114,  118-25 

Control 123 

Description  119-20 

Distribution -. 118 


1909.] 


INDEX 


585 


PAGE 

Enemies,  natural 122-3 

Food  plants 118-9 

Habits 121.2 

Life  history 120.1 

Sitones  flavescens 184-9 

Control 188 

Food  plants  and  injuries.  .185-6 

Life  history 186.8 

Other  species 188 

Stages 186 

Smut,  treatment  of  oats  for.  .311-2 

Spraying  as  cause  of  browning 
or  burning  of  leaves 222-3 

Steers,  marketing 571-4 

Method  of  feeding 568-71 

STEERS,  SHORT  FED,  A 
COMPARISON  OF  ME- 
THODS OF  FEEDING 
(with  plates) 563-78 

Stem-borer 178-84 

Control 184 

Distribution 178 

Enemies,  natural 183 

Food  plants 178.9 


PAGE 

Habits 182-3 

Injury 179-80 

Life  history 181-2 

Stages 180 

Syrphidae 147 

Syrphus  americanus 148 

Syrphus  ribesii 148 

Tar  water,  treatment  of  seed 

corn  with  7,8 

Tobacco   water,  treatment    of 

seed  corn  with 13 

Trees,  comparison  of,  subject- 
ed to  rain  with  trees  spray- 
ed with  cistern  water — 270-3 
Condition    of    foliage    of, 

sprayed  with  lime 278-80 

Covered  and  uncovered. .  .242-8 
Field     experiments     with 

sprayed,  in  1906 253-63 

1907 264-70 

Triphleps  insidiosus 151 

Turpentine,  treatment  of  seed 

corn  with 7,8 

Uncinula  spiralis 204 


.>.*-- 


